'Treated everyone in the franchise as my family and...': Sanju Samson breaks silence after leaving RR to join CSK ahead of IPL 2026, Watch VIDEO

India star wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on November 15 when he completed a move to five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions from Rajasthan Royals via trade. CSK traded Samson with their veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan-based franchise.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took their 'X', formerly known as Twitter, where the wicketkeeper batter recalled his experience of joining the franchise. Here is the clip.

“I have been waiting for this day and I am very fortunate that I am going to wear the yellow jersey. As I said I am always in my dark colours. Like black, blue, brown but yellow I think, definitely a great feeling to wear that jersey. Never thought about how I will feel after wearing CSK. I felt very positive and I felt very happy. I felt very different. A different energy wearing that jersey. I felt like a champion,” Sanju said in a video shared by CSK.

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Sanju Samson's career with RR

Sanju Samson has been captaining the RR since 2021, and under his leadership, the IPL franchise reached the 2022 final where the Gujarat Titans defeated them to win their inagural title. However, the last edition of the cash-rich league proved quite challenging because he missed the five matches due to a side strain. Riyan Parag captained the side in his absence, and the franchise finished ninth with just four wins.

Samson was retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of the last mega auction alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, and Shimron Hetmyer.

Sanju Samson on joining the Rajasthan Royals

Taking to social media, Samson had reflected on his time with Rajasthan, stating he gave the franchise his all but felt it was the right “time” to move on.

“We are only here for a short period of time,” he wrote on Instagram. “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.”