Sanju Samson Explains His Decision on CSK Captaincy Role

In a surprising turn of events, Sanju Samson has transitioned from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026 season. This move marks a significant change for the seasoned right-handed batsman, who began his IPL journey with RR in 2013 and remained with the franchise until 2025. During his tenure, he took on the captaincy role starting in 2021, leading the team for five seasons. His recent transfer to CSK came with a hefty price tag of Rs 18 crore, raising expectations that he would step into a leadership position within the new team. However, CSK opted to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain, who has been at the helm for three consecutive seasons. This decision left many wondering about Samson's role in the leadership hierarchy at CSK.

In a candid conversation with Aakash Chopra on JioHotstar, Samson shared his perspective on the captaincy and why he chose not to pursue it upon joining CSK. He emphasized that captaincy should not be something one actively seeks; rather, it should be bestowed upon an individual based on the trust and belief of others. Samson recounted his own experience at RR, where he did not request the captaincy. Instead, it was Manoj Badale, the owner of RR, who informed him that he would be the next captain, a moment that he embraced with readiness. He stated, "Captaincy is not something you should ask for. It's something that should be given to you because people believe you are the right person. Even at RR, I never asked for it. I was ready to take on the responsibility when it was offered to me."