CSK not alone! Sanju Samson race heats up with 1 more team joining the bid

Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are currently the hot topics in the cricket world as the deadline for the IPL retentions approaches fast. November 15 is the deadline for the franchises to confirm the player they want to continue in the IPL 2026.

Presently, there is a huge uproar over the Samson trade, as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter has already made up his mind to leave the Rajasthan Royals. And the 2008 IPL champions have already decided to move on from their star player and have been exploring options.

CSK reignite talks with RR as KKR join race for Sanju Samson

Ever since Sanju expressed a desire to leave the Desires, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been in the headlines for acquiring the services of the Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals asked for Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Ruturaj Gaikwad for the Samson trade.

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But CSK denied, and the buzz died down until Friday, when the reports emerged that the franchise has resumed the discussion with the RR for Samson. This time, CSK may agree to leave Shivam Dube to bring Samson on board ahead of the IPL 2026 auction in December.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals was also interested in Samson, but they didn’t agree to the Royals’ demand of swapping Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi.

'KKR-Sanju Samson trade deal still on'

Amidst the buzz, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were also in the race to sign the Kerala star after the Delhi Capitals denied an all-cash deal for KL Rahul.

Presently, the Kolkata Knight Riders are in need of a captain and wicketkeeper, and KL Rahul was the perfect fit. So, the KKR had offered an all-cash deal, but DC denied it, as they wanted some of their core players for the trade. Now, the KKR-DC deal is off for Rahul.

Given that, Samson is still a perfect fit for the three-time IPL champions. Amid the buzz, a Revsportz journalist, Rohit Juglan, revealed that the KKR is still very much interested in Samson after DC denied their offer for Rahul. He claimed that there is “still a possibility of a Sanju Samson-KKR deal.”

CSK breaks the silence on Sanju Samson trade rumours

Meanwhile, the Chennai Super Kings have finally addressed the rumors about a possible trade involving Sanju Samson. When asked about the speculation, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan dismissed the possibility of a potential player swap.

Read Also: Gautam Gambhir holds long talk with Sanju Samson before 5th T20I, explains reason behind his snub

This adds a sudden twist to the ongoing trade buzz. Sources close to the development have hinted that more clarity could come in the coming days. Kasi Viswanathan was quoted as saying by IANS, “No, not likely, not likely. (on the Samson trade).”

KKR set to retain core players ahead of IPL 2026

On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are gearing up for IPL 2026 with a clear plan to protect the powerhouse core that defines their identity. Sunil Narine and Andre Russell remain untouchable, while Rinku Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy will be retained from India.

Young guns like Harshit Rana and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are seen as the future superstars, so they will also be kept by the KKR. Ajinkya Rahane’s experience, Rovman Powell’s explosive power, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s reliability are likely to be backed by the franchise for the IPL 2026.