The dust is settling on the biggest trade of the IPL 2026 pre-auction window, and now the emotion is surfacing. Sanju Samson, who was the face, captain, and all-time highest run-scorer for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), has shared a heartfelt farewell note with the franchise after his official move to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Samson, a two-time player for RR (excluding his 2016-17 stint with Delhi Capitals), ended his 10-year connection with the team in an all-cash trade deal that also saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran move to RR.
An Emotional Farewell
Taking to Instagram, the 30-year-old penned a philosophical message, emphasizing his commitment to the team that nurtured his career.
“We are only here for a short period of time. Gave my everything to this franchise, enjoyed some great cricket, made some lifetime relations, treated everyone in the franchise as my family.. And when it’s time..I am moving on.. Shall always be grateful for everything @rajasthanroyals.”
A Dream Finally Realized: Playing Close to Dhoni
The trade to CSK takes on an extra layer of meaning, as Samson will now play for the franchise led by his idol, MS Dhoni. Samson revealed that getting close to Dhoni, whom he has always admired, was a lifelong aspiration.
He recalled his long wait to properly meet the legendary wicketkeeper:
Sanju Samson (to Star Sports): “As every young Indian cricketer, I wanted to be around MS Dhoni… Even just sitting around him was a dream as a young cricketer.”
Samson recounted that he waited until the 8th year of his IPL career, specifically after winning a Player of the Match award against CSK, to finally approach him. Now, as a key player for CSK, Samson’s dream of interacting and learning from Dhoni regularly is finally a reality.
The star player’s move to CSK brings an end to a remarkable chapter with the Royals, a journey where he became their most successful captain, leading them to the IPL 2022 finals.