When Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings after being traded from the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the ongoing IPL 2026, it was expected that the star India T20I opener would replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain of the side. However, Ruturaj stayed as captain while Samson accepted to play as a player.
Sanju Samson denies CSK captaincy
Recently, Samson has put an end to the prospect of being named CSK skipper and feels okay with playing under Ruturaj's captaincy.
Also Read: Big feat for Rashid Khan in IPL, beats Sunil Narine to become...
Also Read: CSK vs LSG Playing XI, Head-to-Head Record, Pitch Report & Weather Report
On being questioned about expecting captaincy at CSK, Samson outrightly said no, saying he was moving from one franchise to another and he does not possess the right to make demands as it is not good for the growth of the team.
"No, because I already had a team, I was already in a place. So, I wanted to come out of there and join another team. So, in that transaction, you can't actually have demands. Honestly, you are trying to get in a new home. So, when you are trying to get in a new home, you don't go there with demands. This is what I have learnt to be very honest," said Samson on the Super Kings Podcast.
Speaking further, Samson stated that when a player moves from one team to another, they can't make such demands immediately and must first earn their place through strong performances before taking on a leadership role.
"You go there, and you try to prove your worth. You try to behave the way you are, perform [to your] maximum, and then from there you take on [captaincy]," he added.
Sanju Samson's strong season with CSK
Despite playing as a player, Sanju Samson has recorded a strong maiden season with the Yellow Army. The former RR skipper has managed to score 402 runs in 10 innings, at an impressive average of 57.43 with a strike rate of 167.50. The right-handed batter has scored two centuries and one half-century.