S Badrinath for Sanju Samson transfer for CSK: 'Riyan Parag is the reason': Ex-CSK star's shocking claim on speculations of Sanju Samson wanting to leave RR after IPL 2025

Former India cricketer S Badrinath said that Riyan Parag's presence in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad could be the main reason behind Sanju Samson reportedly asking the franchise to release him. Badrinath questioned why a wicketkeeper batter would stay if Parag was one of the contenders to lead the franchise.

Parag captained RR in the first three matches of the IPL 2025 and he was again given captaincy when Samson sustained an abdominal injury.

"I feel Riyan Parag is the reason. If you consider him for captaincy, how do you expect someone like Samson to stay?" Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.

Bardrinath also questioned Samson's batting number if he joins the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He believes that the presence of young players like Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top and Bewald Brevis in the middle could be an issue.

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"If Sanju Samson does come to CSK, then he could be the like-for-like replacement for MS Dhoni. Samson is a batter who can bat in the top three or four spots in the batting order. He is not someone who could fit in the number five or six spot in the playing XI. CSK are strong in those areas of the playing XI. Mhatre is settled, Gaikwad is settled, Brevis is settled."

"I am not sure if CSK would do a transaction like MI did to get Hardik Pandya from GT. So even if Sanju Samson comes in, the question remains whether CSK can fit him into the playing XI," the two-time IPL winner said.

Samson has been a cornerstone of the team, playing 149 matches for the Jaipur-based side and scoring over 4,000 runs. He holds the records for both the most appearances and the highest run total for the inaugural IPL champions.

Samson's last cricketing outing came in the Indian Premier League, where he missed the five matches of the tournament; the franchise appointed Riyan Parag as stand-in captain. Rajasthan Royals (RR) ended their campaign as the second-last team with just four wins. Samson's last international outing came in February against England.