After an uncontrollable level of speculation, Sanju Samson finally breaks the silence on why he left his former franchise, the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2026, the 31-year-old clarified that it was his personal decision to embark on a fresh chapter and not linked to any controversy.

Following a massive trade of INR 18 crore from RR to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the Kerala-born batter will be donning the yellow jersey for the first time, that too against his former team. The five-time champions will kickstart their IPL 2026 campaign on March 30, against Rajasthan at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

‘My Time Completed With RR’: Samson’s Opinion

Sanju Samson, during his recent media interaction in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (March 16), believed that his long association with the Royals had met its natural conclusion.

Dressed in a black patterned kurta and white dhoni, the T20 World Cup 2026 champion responded to the question in a casual tone:

“See! The main reason why I parted ways with the Rajasthan Royals was that my time with the team was completed. I promise to give the best for my current team, no matter if we play against them (referring to the Royals) now,” Samson explained.

Samson and Dhoni Interaction: Unknown Facts Revealed!

Sanju Samson opened up about his previous interaction with MS Dhoni. His eagerness to learn from the legendary skipper was clearly evident in his words:

“Yes! Earlier, I spoke to Mahi Bhai (referring to Dhoni) over the phone, and there were positive vibes surrounding him. When I was in the Indian team, sharing the dressing room with him was a memorable experience.

For the next two months, I will be spending valuable time with him at the CSK, and I am really excited about it.

Recollecting the support received from the Chennai crowd during the T20 World Cup, I was a bit surprised. At this moment, I feel blessed to be part of the most successful franchise and won’t let them down in any situation. I promise to give my best for CSK,” Samson said.

Samson’s Emotions Playing Against RR For First Time

CSK’s campaign opener on March 30 (Monday) marks Sanju Samson’s face-off against RR for the first time since his IPL debut in the 2013 season.

In other words, the former RR captain would face off against his team. However, Samson promised to keep his emotions under control and play the best cricket for the Super Kings:

“Certainly! For the first time, I will compete against the Rajasthan Royals. There will be emotions before and after the match, as I have had a long association with the team management, support staff, and players.

But, I can assure you not to let the emotions control my on-field performance. Rather, the situation should dictate the game flow.

As my time with the Royals was over, I will play the best cricket, no matter even if we play against them,” Samson added.

Earlier, there were discussions about Samson’s move to CSK after the Rajasthan Royals cited his decision to part ways in the middle of IPL 2025. Having achieved several milestones with the franchise, a blockbuster trade to Chennai makes him a prominent figure in the franchise, given his leadership skills and aggressiveness in the top-order batting unit.

Sanju Samson Enters IPL 2026 With Red-Hot Form

Having played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory, Sanju Samson’s maiden stint with CSK ignites hopes for the franchise to lift its sixth IPL trophy in the forthcoming 19th season.

After missing a few matches in the tournament, Samson was reintroduced into the playing XI when India faced a must-win situation to progress into the knockouts and defend their title at home.

He amassed 321 runs in 5 innings, out of which his match-winning performances in the Super 8s, semi-final, and final have opened a fresh chapter in his international cricket career.

Here are the notable individual scores in his last three games for India as an opening batter:

• 89 Runs (46 Balls) vs New Zealand in T20WC 2026 Final.
• 89 Runs (42 Balls) vs England in T20WC 2026 Semi-Final.
• *97 Runs (50 Balls) vs West Indies in T20WC 2026 Super 8s.

Samson’s transition from RR to CSK is not just about making a simple change. Rather, the star cricketer is prepared to accept new challenges and accelerate his cricketing career to the next stage.

Final Thoughts

After a blockbuster campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026, it’s time for Sanju Samson to deliver an impactful performance against the world-class bowlers in IPL season 19.

The wicketkeeper batter will begin his new season with CSK, facing off against his former side RR, in Guwahati for the first time. Although he acknowledged the possibilities of the emotions getting stirred before and after the match, his concentration will be purely on the on-field performance.

Overall, the clash between CSK and RR promises to set the stage for an exhilarating start for both teams to the IPL 2026 campaign.