Sanju Samson Breaks Silence On Leaving Rajasthan Royals Ahead Of IPL 2026

Sanju Samson revealed he left Rajasthan Royals as his “time was over” and is now set to begin a new journey with Chennai Super Kings.

Sanju Samson is all set to represent Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2026 season after making a surprising move from Rajasthan Royals. The Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batter joined the Chennai-based franchise in a trade deal ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, ending a long and memorable stint with RR.

Having represented Rajasthan Royals across multiple phases between 2013–2015 and 2018–2025, Samson remains the franchise’s most capped player and highest run-scorer. Reflecting on his decision, the 31-year-old revealed that he felt his journey with the Jaipur-based side had reached its natural conclusion.

“I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over,” Samson said in a PTI video.

Samson’s move to CSK marks the beginning of a fresh chapter in his IPL career. He is expected to play a key role for the five-time champions as they look to rebuild and strengthen their core for the upcoming season.

Interestingly, Samson is set to make his CSK debut against his former side Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Despite the emotional nature of the fixture, Samson emphasized that he will remain focused on delivering his best performance on the field.

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Emotions Put Aside Ahead Of RR Clash

Speaking about facing his former teammates, Samson acknowledged the emotional connection but made it clear that it won’t affect his game once he steps onto the field.

“It’s a situation that hasn’t happened yet. This is the first time I’m going to play against RR after playing (for them) in IPL. I don’t really think about the emotions once I step onto the ground. The game will definitely dictate it. But even before the match and even after the match, when I play with the old team, there are a lot of players who we played with when we were young.

There are a lot of management and support staff. Everyone is there. They definitely have love and respect. But as I said earlier, everyone has their own time. My time was with RR. I went forward because I thought it was over. So when I go forward, there is a bit of excitement. It’s a new journey. Even if I play against RR, I want to play with a lot of happiness,” Samson said.

With a new team and renewed motivation, Samson will aim to make a strong impact for CSK in IPL 2026 while embracing the challenge of facing his former franchise.