Will Sanju Samson replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as Chennai Super Kings captain in IPL 2026? CSK clear the air

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) orchestrated one of the most biggest trade deals in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by successfully securing the services of star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. This high-profile trade saw the former Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper move to the five-time IPL champions for a fee of Rs 18 crore, making CSK his third franchise. In exchange, RR roped in the experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and the English star Sam Curran.

Ruturaj Gaikwad to remain CSK captain in IPL 2026

The trade was initiated by Samson himself, who requested a release from the Royals due to certain differences, prompting RR to seek a potential trade partner which eventually led to the deal with CSK. Following the blockbuster transfer, immediate speculation arose among fans and media as to whether the Kerala superstar would take over the CSK captaincy, a role he successfully held at RR. However, CSK have officially put the speculation to rest.

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They confirmed that the current skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, will continue to lead the side in the upcoming season, indicating that Samson's acquisition is focused on strengthening the squad's batting and wicketkeeping depth rather than an immediate change in leadership.

On the other hand, despite moving on from CSK after a 12-year association, the biggest news is that Jadeja agreed to a Rs 4 crore pay cut to join his former franchise. While Jadeja's last drawn salary from CSK was Rs18 crore, he will now represent RR for Rs 14 crore. The move has also generated significant discussion regarding the captaincy of RR. Reports have indicated that Jadeja is being considered to replace Samson as the new leader of the Royals squad. However, the franchise has not yet made any official announcement regarding the appointment of their new captain.

CSK retained players

Ruturaj Gaikwad
MS Dhoni
Dewald Brevis* (SA)
Ayush Mhatre
Urvil Patel
Anshul Kamboj
Jamie Overton* (ENG)
Ramakrishna Ghosh
Shivam Dube
Khaleel Ahmed
Noor Ahmad* (AFG)
Mukesh Choudhary
Nathan Ellis* (AUS)
Shreyas Gopal
Gurjapneet Singh
Sanju Samson - trade in from RR

CSK released players:

Ravindra Jadeja - trade out to RR
Sam Curran* (ENG) - trade out to RR
Rahul Tripathi
Vansh Bedi
Andre Siddarth
Rachin Ravindra* (NZ)
Deepak Hooda
Vijay Shankar
Shaik Rasheed
Kamlesh Nagarkoti
Matheesha Pathirana* (SL)
Devon Conway* (NZ)

Purse remaining: Rs. 43.40 crore
Slots remaining : 9 slots, and 4 overseas spots