Indian wicketkeeper-batsman sanju samson He has shared the personal reasons for his shock departure from Rajasthan Royals, a franchise that became his home for over 11 seasons. The move to Chennai Super Kings via a trade ahead of IPL 2026 forced the Kerala cricketer to face tough emotions, but it also opened the door to fulfilling a childhood dream. Samson recalls the mental journey that led to the franchise's biggest departure.
The decision to go away weighed heavily on Samson. He spent 13 years associated with Rajasthan since 2013 and captained them for five consecutive seasons since 2021. During that stint, he led the team to the finals for the first time since 2008. During his IPL career, Samson has scored over 4500 runs across multiple franchises. Yet loyalty to a team, even if it feels like your own, ultimately has its limits. Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Samson believed that the boys had matured and the franchise no longer needed to carry them forward.
“Moving on from RR was a huge decision for me. I believe that after playing for a team for a while, you start feeling like it is your team and no one can remove you. But, I was always aware that there is a limited time for everyone at one place. You do your job, and you walk out and after the end of IPL 2025, there came a point when I felt I should move on. I told myself boys, I am ready. And RR is ready to play without Sanju Samson. That's when I thought about leaving,” Samson said on JioStar's Superstars.
Why did Chennai Super Kings feel like the ideal destination?
When several franchises expressed interest, CSK emerged as their clear choice. Beyond the franchise, Samson saw something deeper in the yellow jersey. The presence of mentors, especially the existing relationships with teammates like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, made this opportunity feel like destiny. Interacting with other players who experienced the CSK culture strengthened his conviction.
“There were two or three options at that time. But to be honest, CSK, Mahi Bhai's influence, the franchise itself and my friends there, especially Ruturaj, meant I had a very good relationship. Based on what I had heard about CSK from other players, I felt this was my kind of franchise. If I go there, it would be great for me. I aspired to it, but business is a tricky thing. I want to go there, but would they want me? And the original team should get what they want. In return, it was a big turn, I got to CSK,” said Samson.
The childhood hero who inspired every dream about cricket
For young Samson, Dhoni was never just a captain on television. The fearlessness, the attacking intent, the way he carried himself on the field all left an indelible mark. Samson collected his idol's magazine clippings, pasted them in his diary and dreamed of a day when he could share the crease with him. Now, with CSK giving him that chance, his teenage fantasy has come closer to reality.
“The way he handled himself and his aggressive batting style really attracted me. He would appear in advertisements, and I would cut out his picture and paste it in my diary. Every child has an idol, and Mahi Bhai is mine. As a child, I used to watch India play every day. Mahi Bhai would captain and win matches. I would fall asleep thinking, 'I too want to play one day.' “I used to dream of batting with him, building partnerships and fielding with him,” Samson revealed.
Samson's arrival at CSK signals the end of an era for Rajasthan and the beginning of their most gratifying chapter in the IPL. The franchise traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to bring in them, making a significant change to their team structure.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply