“Sanju Samson to CSK” - Aakash Chopra opens up on RR reportedly trading its captain to CSK

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on the possibility of the Rajasthan Royals trading its skipper, Sanju Samson, to the Chennai Super Kings franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

According to reports, there have been speculations that Samson is most likely to join the Chennai-based franchise as the Kerala batter can be a decent replacement for MS Dhoni, who might retire anytime from the league.

"Sanju Samson to CSK, is that actually a possibility? Will that happen? Reports have come, but you will eagerly wait to hear what RR says. A CSK official has said that they are interested and keen, and that it would be great if they get him because he is a keeper-batter, and they have to look beyond MS Dhoni. So he could be a very good option," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"In my original choices, I had thought about Dhruv Jurel as well. I had thought about Rishabh Pant too. This team needs a wicketkeeper-batter, and that wicketkeeper-batter is not Urvil Patel. You need a keeper with a little more pedigree and experience, and a slightly bigger name, because if you have to carry MS Dhoni's legacy forward, you need that kind of a player," he added.

Furthermore, Chopra stated that the Rajasthan-based franchise would like to get the services of either Ravi Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja for their trade to be successful. He would emerge as the second captain after Hardik Pandya if this trade is successful.

"Will this trade happen? CSK have said that they are interested, but they haven't reached the stage in the conversation where they can say who they can trade. Rajasthan may want either Ashwin or Jadeja. It is well within their rights to ask, if that trade is ever going to happen," he stated.

"If this trade happens, it's an interesting one, as a captain would be traded for the second time. Hardik Pandya was the first, and now it will be Sanju Samson, if he is traded. The conversation is even more because RR have got openers now. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal are there. In the last match, Sanju actually came to bat down the order," Chopra concluded.

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