The Sanju Samson-Chennai Super Kings trade buzz continues to heat up with only one day to go for the IPL 2026 Retentions deadline day. Though it has all but confirmed that the Rajasthan Royals’ mainstay of over a decade will make the move down south to CSK, an official confirmation is awaited. Former CSK batter Robin Uthappa, however, has not restrained himself from assessing the probable CSK outfit and its batting order for the next edition, keeping Samson in focus in the order.
The former IPL champion Uthappa said that he despised the idea of Samson batting lower down the order in T20 cricket, one that India had recently experimented with before dropping the Kerala star mid-way through the tour to Australia.
Uthappa reckoned that should the deal come to fruition, Samson could likely slot himself as one of the openers for CSK with fellow wicket-keeper Urvil Patel or captain Ruturaj Gaikwad partnering him at the top. Uthappa said it will be imperative for Samson to do so to continue to impress his case as an opener for India in T20Is.
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“I hate the idea of Sanju batting down the order. I think you’ll probably see Sanju and Ruturaj opening the batting, or Sanju or Urvil opening the batting.”
“If Sanju has to continue to push for a spot in the Indian team at the top of the order, he has to open the batting. If he bats anywhere below that number, then he’s doing himself a massive disservice, and they [selectors] will use that as an excuse against [him],” he added.
Last year, Samson became the first and only opener to record three T20I centuries in a calendar year as an opener.
‘He moved down when Kohli was playing’
Uthappa also elaborated on how Gaikwad has opted to push himself down the order over the last season in limited-overs cricket, unlike the modern T20 player.
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“Funnily enough, Ruturaj wants to bat at No. 3 in T20 cricket, and I don’t understand the logic of that. When he was captain, he wanted to bat at No. 3 till he got injured last year in the IPL. That is so self-defeating because you have just kind of creating a space for yourself in Indian cricket.”
“You’ve actually created a space for yourself where you can actually push for a position there, and he did this when Virat was still playing, right?… And then suddenly he’s out in the lurch trying to find his way back in. I hope he does. I really like to see him [Gaikwad] and Sanju open. Urvil at No. 3.”
Samson will likely move to the five-time champions in the biggest trade deal for the side in their history, in a straight swap with Ravindra Jadeja after both players were retained by their respective franchises at Rs 18 crore last season.
