Sanju Samson opens up on leaving RR, Shares MS Dhoni’s advice that changed his CSK journey

New Delhi: Every cricketer reaches a stage where stepping out of their comfort zone becomes necessary. That moment came for Sanju Samson after 11 seasons with Rajasthan Royals. The India wicketkeeper-batter decided to start a new chapter with Chennai Super Kings, a decision that he admits was one of the biggest risk of his career. Looking back, Samson feels the move gave him a new motivation and helped him find himself as a cricketer.

Why Sanju Samson left Rajasthan Royals

Samson was the face of Rajasthan Royals for over a decade and also led the franchise for five IPL seasons. However, before IPL 2026, he made the difficult decision to leave the franchise and join Chennai Super Kings through a high-profile trade.

The 30-year-old revealed that the decision was not taken overnight and involved several discussions with his family.

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“Leaving Rajasthan Royals was a huge risk. Once you convey your feelings to the franchise, there is no going back. You could end up in a team you don’t want to go to or even in the auction with no certainty. There were two reasons behind this decision.

“First, I was sure that 2025 would be my last season with RR. I had long conversations with my family and my wife. They kept asking me if it was an impulsive decision or if I was really sure. We discussed it for two or three weeks, and then we decided it was time. I was convinced it was the right call.

“Second, I am a confident person. I believe I can stand on my own. I am always ready to start from zero. Many people told me that my batting style might not suit the slow Chepauk wicket. Those thoughts did cross my mind. But then I told myself, ‘You are 30 years old. Go out and find a way.’ This IPL season, I went in with a lot of energy, thinking I had to achieve something. I discovered a new energy there, and it was working very well for me.”

Tough start at CSK after T20 World Cup success

Samson arrived at CSK after playing a key role in India’s successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, where he was named Player of the Tournament. But his IPL journey with Chennai did not begin as expected.

He failed to score in his first three matches and CSK lost all three games. Despite the poor start, Samson said the calm atmosphere inside the dressing room helped him stay relaxed.

“In T20 cricket, failure is common. In this format, you tend to fail more than you succeed. So, when you are going through a rough patch, you need people around you who understand that failure is part of the game. When I joined CSK, I failed in my first three games. We lost all three, and I didn’t score runs.

“I had just come off playing in the World Cup final, but I wasn’t able to carry that form into the IPL. In that situation, no matter how experienced you are, you know that the coach expects more, the captain expects more, and Mahi bhai is watching you. So I went to the nets, worked on my game, and stayed in my zone.

“I was more mature this time around and I knew what I had to do. But what really stood out was that the response from the team management and my teammates didn’t change even one per cent. When I failed three matches in a row, their faith in me never wavered. That meant a lot to me.”

MS Dhoni’s advice changed Samson’s mindset

The turning point came during a practice session when MS Dhoni noticed Samson looked slightly unsettled. A short conversation between the two proved to be the biggest confidence boost the wicketkeeper-batter needed.

“I still remember, Mahi bhai met me after the first three matches when we went for practice. I usually sit right behind him, facing him. So, we sat down, and he looked at me and asked if I was fine. I said, ‘Bhaiya, I am fine.’

“Then I kept saying ‘but’ and ‘yes’ without even realising it. Then he told me, ‘Don’t get into but. Just focus on doing what you do best. Everything will be alright.’

“It was very subtle, but a huge lesson for me. He was telling me that everything is okay. Just because I was failing didn’t mean I had to change my batting style, look like I was stressed, or practice for three extra hours.

“At that moment, I felt I really had to perform for them. Then I told Stephen Fleming, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be fine in the next game.’ And in the next game, I scored a hundred against Delhi Capitals. From there, the momentum came back.”

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