Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is reportedly on the radar of several IPL franchises looking to bring him in via trade for the 2026 season. Among them, Chennai Super Kings is one of the interested teams aiming to secure the services of the Kerala batter.

CSK Eyes Sanju Samson

Last season was disastrous for CSK, as they struggled throughout the tournament in making the right decisions. Mid-season, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury, and the franchise had no choice but to reappoint MS Dhoni as skipper. However, the decision didn’t change their fortunes, as the men in yellow finished the 2025 season at the bottom of the table.

Following the poor season, CSK has been on the lookout for a long-term captaincy and wicketkeeping option. Recently, a CSK official confirmed the franchise’s interest in Sanju Samson.

“We are looking at Sanju. He is an Indian batter who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold. Who we will trade him with, we have not taken that call because the matter has not gone that far. But yes, in principle, we are interested,” said CSK Official.

CSK May Sacrifice Ruturaj Gaikwad in Sanju Samson Trade

However, to trade in Sanju Samson, CSK might make Ruturaj Gaikwad the scapegoat. Both Samson and Ruturaj are valued at ₹18 crore, which makes a player-for-player trade possible. Since CSK is eyeing Sanju for a leadership role and as an opener, Ruturaj’s value within the team may no longer be the same.

However, franchises can also trade players through cash deals, which means CSK could potentially rope in the 30-year-old batter by paying ₹18 crore to RR. For now, these reports remain in the discussion stage, and it remains to be seen whether they turn into reality. Meanwhile, the IPL trade window is currently open.