Former Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson became a Chennai Super Kings player on November 15 when he completed a move to the 5-time IPL champions from RR via trade. As a result of Sanju coming to Chennai, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran went the other way.
“I have been waiting for this day and I am very fortunate that I am going to wear the yellow jersey. As I said I am always in my dark colours. Like black, blue, brown but yellow I think, definitely a great feeling to wear that jersey. Never thought about how I will feel after wearing CSK. I felt very positive and I felt very happy. I felt very different. A different energy wearing that jersey. I felt like a champion,” Sanju said in a video shared by CSK.
Samson had been the face of the Rajasthan Royals for over a decade, representing the franchise across 11 seasons. After joining in 2013, he quickly became a key player and was retained ahead of the 2014 auction at just 19 years of age. During his tenure, he amassed 4,027 runs for RR, led them to the final in 2022, and recorded a career-best season of 531 runs in 2024.
“Felt like a champion.” – Sanju
In Yellove, the spirit chooses you 💛 #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/Eh4S0G5Am9— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 19, 2025
Taking to social media, Samson had reflected on his time with Rajasthan, stating he gave the franchise his all but felt it was the right “time” to move on.
“We are only here for a short period of time,” he wrote on Instagram. “Gave MY everything to this franchise, enjoyed some great cricket, made some lifetime relations, treated everyone in the franchise as my family..And when its time..I AM moving On..Shall always be grateful for everything @rajasthanroyals.”
In a video posted by the Rajasthan Royals, team owner Manoj Badale explained how the Samson saga unfolded and praised the genuineness of the Kerala star in expressing his request to leave the franchise. Badale said that Samson was emotionally drained after having led the bid of the inaugural champions as captain and even coming close to the title in the IPL 2022 season.
