IPL 2026: 3 franchises Sanju Samson has represented in the tournament’s history

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is abuzz with the potential of a massive player trade that would see Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson move to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and possibly a second player in form of Sam Curran.

This high-profile swap is widely viewed as the ultimate succession plan for the Yellow Army, with the management, reportedly including MS Dhoni himself, identifying the proven Indian wicketkeeper-batter as the ideal candidate to take over the long-term wicketkeeping and possibly captaincy reins from the legendary Dhoni.

This anticipated move might come after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s challenging captaincy stint in the 2025 season and injury problems, which saw CSK finish at the bottom of the table, partly due to his own injury and inconsistent form, highlighting the franchise’s urgent need for an experienced and charismatic Indian leader like Samson. Samson’s own desire for a change of franchise has reportedly fueled the trade talks, which are expected to conclude before the IPL 2026 retention deadline, setting the stage for a dramatic reshuffling of the league’s landscape.

1. Rajasthan Royals (RR): The core of his IPL career

Samson’s primary identity in the IPL has been forged with the Rajasthan. He first joined the franchise in 2013 as an 18-year-old and made an immediate impact, winning the Emerging Player of the Year award. He remained with RR until the team was suspended after the 2015 season. Upon the team’s return in 2018, Samson was re-acquired for a substantial amount and became the face of the franchise.

Sanju’s career reached its pinnacle here when he was appointed captain ahead of the 2021 season. Under his leadership, the Royals enjoyed significant success, reaching the IPL Final in 2022, their first final appearance since the inaugural season in 2008. In the 2024 season, he recorded his personal best IPL performance, scoring 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47, before an injury and a subsequent team slump led to the Royals finishing ninth. Samson is the franchise’s all-time leading run-scorer with over 4,000 runs, and he was retained for INR 18 crore ahead of the 2025 season.

Also READ: With Sanju Samson set to join CSK, Rajasthan Royals consider Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal for captaincy

2. Delhi Daredevils/Delhi Capitals (DD/DC): The mid-career switch

Following the two-year suspension of the Rajasthan and Chennai, Samson was signed by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for the 2016 season. He played for the franchise for two seasons before returning to the Royals in 2018. During his time with Delhi, Samson showcased his explosive potential, scoring his maiden IPL century (102 runs) against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. Across these two seasons (2016-2017), he was a reliable middle-order batter, contributing crucial innings and demonstrating his ability to quickly adapt to different team structures and pressure situations. His stint here further cemented his reputation as a versatile wicketkeeper-batter capable of winning matches single-handedly.

3. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): The Unplayed debut

While his playing career officially began with Rajasthan, Sanju Samson was initially picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2012 season. He was signed at a base price of INR 8 lakh, but was unable to break into the playing XI of the side. As a result, he spent the entire 2012 season on the bench without playing a single match. Although this was his first association with an IPL franchise, he was released by the team ahead of the 2013 season, which led to his eventual move to Rajasthan Royals where his career truly took off.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals request for key CSK player to ensure the success of Sanju Samson-Ravindra Jadeja trade deal