Sanju Samson, the recent high-profile acquisition of the Chennai Super Kings, has broken his silence regarding his new team’s leadership, expressing his full support for Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain for IPL 2026. The franchise has officially announced Gaikwad will continue his tenure as skipper.
Samson, who captained the Rajasthan Royals for five seasons (2021-2025), was a subject of captaincy speculation upon his move to CSK. However, the team’s clear stance is that Gaikwad is their leader for the foreseeable future.
In a revealing video interaction, Samson spoke about his integration into the CSK setup and his dynamic with Gaikwad. He affirmed his desire to play under Gaikwad’s command.
“Rutu is a good friend of mine. He is the Captain and I want to play under his captaincy. I want to be with him as a leader,” Samson stated, highlighting a strong personal and professional connection.
This move to the Super Kings signifies a new chapter for Samson, a transition that was reportedly discussed with the Rajasthan Royals leadership before the end of the previous IPL season. The decision to leave RR was reportedly influenced by Samson’s emotional state following the team’s historically poor performance in IPL 2025.
The trade that brought Samson to CSK also saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran head to Rajasthan Royals. Jadeja’s move is a homecoming, while Curran will experience a new team environment. Looking ahead, Rajasthan Royals are reportedly assessing leadership options for 2027, with Jadeja, Jaiswal, and Jurel being considered.