Overview
- Sanju Samson has formally requested a trade after being pushed down to No. 3 by the emergence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Riyan Parag’s rise as captain.
- The Royals, who retained Samson at ₹18 crore through 2027, have rejected cash-only bids and insist on player-for-player exchanges to release him.
- Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath linked Samson’s exit bid to internal leadership shifts and questioned whether Chennai Super Kings can find him a top-three batting spot.
- Chennai Super Kings’ interest has cooled amid a settled top order and captaincy loyalty to Ruturaj Gaikwad, complicating any potential deal.
- If no trade is agreed by the IPL window deadline, Samson risks entering the mini-auction, where his high retained price could deter suitors.