The high-profile transfer of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was not a decision forced by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) management, but rather one initiated by the captain himself. RR owner Manoj Badale revealed that Samson requested the move, explaining that he sought a fresh chapter following what he described as an emotionally exhausting season with the Royals.
Sanju Samson leaves RR for CSK
This request began the process that culminated in Samson, who is 30 years old, officially joining CSK on Saturday, November 15, in the blockbuster trade deal that saw Ravindra Jadeja move to RR. The IPL confirmed that Samson will maintain his existing salary of Rs 18 crore, immediately positioning him as one of Chennai's most expensive players ever. Over the past 48 hours, fans and media had engaged in wild speculation regarding the reasons for Samson's departure, hypothesising about money disputes, poor form, internal friction with management, or the team's disappointing results.
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However, Badale intervened to dispel these theories. In a video posted on RR’s official X account, he clarified that Samson's exit was entirely self-driven. Badale disclosed that the first conversation regarding the possibility of Samson leaving the franchise took place toward the end of the last season during a meeting in Kolkata.
“The first time, this year or in the past year, Sanju talked about moving on was probably in Kolkata towards the end of the season. We had a meeting after the game," Badale stated, as quoted by News18.
Samson was personally emotionally drained: RR owner Manoj Badale
RR had recently endured one of their worst campaigns in 18 years, and captain Sanju Samson, who spent nearly 14 years across two stints with the franchise, was reportedly visibly worn out by the experience. RR owner Manoj Badale admitted that the decision to let their long-serving skipper go was personally difficult. But, ultimately, the franchise chose to honor the captain's wishes, allowing him to initiate his departure. With the move now finalised, Samson begins a new chapter on his own terms, donning the yellow jersey.
“He was personally emotionally drained. Sanju cares a huge amount about RR, and the season took a lot out of him. He felt that after giving the best part of 14 years to the franchise, he needed a new chapter to refresh the end of his IPL journey. It’s a natural part of the evolution. You have to keep asking whether these decisions are right for the franchise, for the person, and for the fans," Badale concluded.