Sanju Samson has had a terrific run for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026. He was traded to CSK from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and made an immediate impact. He is leading the charts of most runs for the team, with 402 runs in 10 games, including two centuries. CSK batters have blown hot and cold, but Samson’s purple patch has ensured that CSK stay in the hunt for a berth in the playoffs.
Ever since Samson joined the CSK, there have been speculations that he will take over the leadership duties from Ruturaj Gaikwad. Samson carries way more leadership experience than Gaikwad, having previously led Rajasthan Royals, and taking them to the final in 2022, but CSK have shown faith in Gaikwad.
Samson is a potential captain, but the decision rests on the CSK management, and a lot will rest on how Gaikwad leads CSK in the remaining matches. Ahead of the crucial match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Samson broke silence on why he did not ask for CSK leadership after making a switch from the Royals. He said that captaincy was never in his mind, adding that his focus is on giving everything for the team.
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“No. (whether the thought of becoming the CSK captain entered his head). I already had a team. I already had a place. I wanted to come out of there and join another team. So in that transaction, you can’t actually have demands. Honestly, you are trying to get into a new home. When you’re trying to get into a new home, you don’t go there with demands, is what I have learned to be very honest,” Samson told Abhinav. Mukund in the latest episode of the Super Kings podcast.
“You go there, and you try to prove your worth. You try to behave the way you are, perform at your maximum, and from there you take on. And then there is something else, too. A lot of Malayalis work in Chennai. A lot of Malayalis work in Dubai. The reason you are picking Malayalis is that they will give their life to repay the trust. CSK have trusted me and invited me here. I am ready to give my everything here,” he added.
Sanju Samson lauds Ruturaj Gaikwad
Samson also praised Ruturaj Gaikwad and said that he is one of the most assured and confident cricketers in India.
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“Rutu is honestly a very nice, a very different kind of an Indian cricketing superstar. He is a superstar. He is leading one of the biggest franchises. But he doesn’t behave like a normal superstar. He may not sound or behave like a confident guy, but I feel he is the most assured and confident cricketer in the Indian cricket circle. Any other person at his level, he just captained a franchise for one year,” said Samson.
“I have done it for another team for five years for another team. So, he suddenly invited me to play on his team. He has immense confidence in himself as a cricketer and as a person to take actions like this. So these types of actions do attract me. Nowadays, people talk a lot like I will do this, I will do that, but more than talk, actions count much more,” he added.
CSK are placed sixth on the table with five wins and as many defeats, and need a win over LSG to keep realistic hopes of making the playoffs.
