Sanju Samson, a star wicketkeeper-batter, is suddenly gaining traction in IPL trade speculations, with numerous franchises, notably the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), expressing great interest in acquiring the Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
CSK confirms their interest in Samson.
According to a article, the rumours regarding Samson’s probable move is more than just social media comments; there is significant interest, particularly from CSK, which is looking into long-term leadership and wicketkeeping possibilities. A senior CSK official affirmed the franchise’s intention to investigate the possibilities of adding Samson to their roster.
Player trading window:
Trades can be executed as:
Straight trades (all-cash deals), Trade with a Negotiated Increase (both the player and the selling team get a share of the increased League Fee), Trade with a League Fee reduction, which requires BCCI’s approval and written consent from the player.
If the trade involves an overseas player, an NOC from the respective board is mandatory. The league fee of the traded player is calculated against the buying franchise’s salary cap, while any cash exchanged between franchises is not.
How can CSK bring Sanju Samson?
Meanwhile, the main concern for CSK would be matching Samson’s league fee of INR 18 crore. Notably, the swap could involve CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose retention value is also INR 18 crore. But CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has repeatedly mentioned that Gaikwad’s captaincy appointment was a long-term strategy, making such a trade unlikely.
The deal could also see an exchange for Ravichandran Ashwin and Shivam Dube. Financially, the deal could balance out. Ashwin and Dube together are valued at INR 21.75 crore, more than Samson’s price.
Rajasthan Royals reacts to trade speculations
Notably, Rajasthan Royals have accepted that they’ve received multiple trade requests, not just for Samson, but also for other players like Dhruv Jurel. The team recently conducted a post-season review meeting in London with head coach Rahul Dravid in attendance. However, a final call is expected from RR lead owner Manoj Badale. Attempts to reach him have gone unanswered.
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