Sanju Samson finally speaks on Rajasthan Royals after joining CSK

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has finally reacted to his blockbuster move to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026, and his message has left Rajasthan Royals (RR) fans emotional. Hours after the historic three-way trade, Sanju Samson shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, marking the end of a long and cherished chapter of his career.

Samson reflected on his journey with Rajasthan Royals, and stressed that he had given his absolute best every season, enjoyed unforgettable moments, and built relationships that would stay with him for life. He noted that the franchise was never just a team, but it was a family.

Sanju Samson breaks the silence on blockbuster CSK trade

The former RR captain also said that it is hard to say goodbye, but the moment has come for him to move forward. The Kerala star thanked the franchise, the players, the staff, and the fans for everything they gave him throughout his IPL career with the Royals.

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Sanju Samson shared a picture from his debut season and wrote in the caption: “We are only here for a short period of time” 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.”

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A post shared by Sanju V Samson (@imsanjusamson)

Manoj Badale bids warm goodbye to Sanju Samson

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale shared a heartfelt message for Sanju Samson as he is all set to kickstart his new chapter with CSK. Badale thanked the Indian wicketkeeper for everything he brought to the Royals family, both on and off the field.

Manoj Badale was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “Sanju was with us at trials when he was just 17 years old, went on to become one of our youngest captains of RR, and since then, he has been an integral part of the Royals family for more than a decade, continuing to inspire everyone around him.

His chapter with us has been one of belief, brilliance, and heart. Sanju has been an exceptional ambassador of our values, and we thank him for everything he has done for the Royals family.”

Read Also: Ravindra Jadeja breaks silence on CSK after leaving, joining Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson’s journey with Rajasthan Royals

Samson’s journey with Rajasthan Royals has been one of the most memorable in IPL history. He joined the franchise back in 2013 as a teenager and fearless batter. The Kerala star immediately made an impact by winning the Emerging Player of the Season award in his debut year.

Samson is the highest run-scorer in the Royals’ history, scoring 4,027 runs in 149 IPL matches at an impressive average of 31.70 and a powerful strike rate of 141.24. The right-handed batter is the player who represented RR for the most seasons. He played 11 seasons for the Royals and spent two seasons with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

As captain, Samson led the Royals to 33 wins in 66 games, the most by any RR skipper in the IPL history. He also scored around 200 runs for the team in the Champions League T20. His finest IPL season came in 2024, when he smashed 531 runs at an average of 48.27 with a blazing strike rate of 153.46 and helped the Royals reach the IPL final in 2022, only their second appearance in a title clash. However, they lost the title to Gujarat Titans under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.