Sanju Samson, one of the most dynamic talents in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has reportedly expressed his desire to part ways with Rajasthan Royals (RR), the franchise he has been associated with since 2018. This news has stirred speculation across the IPL landscape, with fans and experts debating which team would benefit the most from acquiring the stylish right-hander.
Why Aakash Chopra Believes KKR Should Target Sanju Samson
While many fans believe that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could be an ideal destination for Samson—especially with MS Dhoni nearing the end of his IPL career—former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has put forward a different perspective. According to Chopra, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should be the most aggressive in pursuing Samson.
“The first name that comes to my mind is not CSK. KKR should be the most desperate team,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. He pointed out two critical gaps in the KKR setup: the absence of an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and a strong long-term captaincy option.
Chopra explained that with Shreyas Iyer no longer part of KKR’s core, the franchise is in need of leadership. “I am not denying that Ajinkya Rahane has captained well and scored runs, but as a batter, either he opens or the batting order becomes a bit uncertain,” he added.
Interestingly, Chopra floated the idea of releasing Venkatesh Iyer, which could free up nearly ₹24 crore in the auction pool—enough to target a marquee player like Samson.
Why Might Sanju Samson Want to Leave RR?
Samson’s potential exit raises questions, especially considering how closely he has been tied to the Royals over the years. He has scored over 4,000 runs for the franchise, including two centuries and 23 fifties, and even captained them to the IPL 2022 final, where they lost to Gujarat Titans.
Chopra tried to decode Samson’s motivations, suggesting that internal team dynamics may be at play. “When the last mega auction happened, they let Jos Buttler go—something that seemed influenced by Sanju’s desire to open the batting. Back then, Sanju and RR seemed inseparable,” he said.
However, Chopra speculated that the situation may have shifted. With new talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel emerging, Samson’s batting position could be under threat. “It seems now there might be less input from Sanju in decision-making. These are just assumptions, of course—we don’t know exactly what’s going on between Sanju and the Rajasthan Royals management.”
RR has struggled with consistency, failing to make the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. Though they reached the final in 2022, their recent performance may also factor into Samson’s desire to explore other opportunities.
