Former Indian spinner R Ashwin expressed uncertainty about the possibility of Sanju Samson leading Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, even if a speculated swap deal between the five-time champions and Rajasthan Royals goes ahead before the IPL retention deadline on November 15.
Reports indicate that Chennai Super Kings are willing to trade Ravindra Jadeja, a key player, along with another player, to acquire Samson from Rajasthan Royals.
Samson has led Rajasthan Royals in 67 matches over four seasons from 2021 to 2025. However, there are reports suggesting his desire to leave the franchise and join Chennai Super Kings.
Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube show that he doubts Samson will be appointed captain in his first season at the franchise. He believes Ruturaj will continue as captain, but Samson could be a future option if the trade goes through.
Jadeja, a vital player for Chennai Super Kings, has played 186 matches for the franchise from 2012 to 2025, second only to MS Dhoni’s 248 IPL appearances.
Ashwin highlighted that Jadeja’s potential move to Rajasthan Royals would significantly benefit the team by providing a much-needed finisher to support Shimron Hetmyer. This would allow young batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag to showcase their skills more confidently, knowing there are experienced finishers in the team.
Ashwin praised Jadeja’s finishing abilities, emphasizing his effectiveness against pace bowlers in the death overs. He mentioned that Jadeja’s skills would complement Tristan Stubbs’ role in finishing games and that the Jaipur pitch conditions would suit him well.
Regarding Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin mentioned that while Samson’s inclusion would strengthen the team’s top order, Jadeja’s potential departure would create a gap, especially in the middle overs where the team heavily relies on finger-spinners.
Ashwin pointed out Jadeja’s defensive prowess in the field, where he is known for taking crucial catches and saving runs. He also discussed potential challenges for Chennai Super Kings in finding a reliable spinner and a gun fielder to replace Jadeja’s contributions.
He raised questions about finishing capabilities and speculated on potential replacements like Washington Sundar from Gujarat Titans as a like-for-like option for Jadeja.
In conclusion, Ashwin emphasized the strategic implications of the speculated trade deal and the impact it could have on both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.