Sanju Samson was on the verge of joining Delhi Capitals before Rajasthan Royals made an unexpected demand that killed the deal. The failed trade has now pushed him closer to Chennai Super Kings in what could be one of IPL’s biggest player swaps.​

The Delhi Deal That Almost Happened

Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals had nearly finalized a trade involving Samson and South African batter Tristan Stubbs. The negotiations progressed so smoothly that senior players in the Delhi camp, including some overseas stars, were already aware of the impending swap. Only an official announcement seemed pending before everything fell apart.​

The dealbreaker came when Rajasthan made an additional demand. After agreeing to the Stubbs exchange, RR asked Delhi to also include uncapped batter Sameer Rizvi in the deal. Delhi Capitals flatly refused, unwilling to part with a young player they see as a future asset. The disagreement brought talks to an abrupt end.​

Why Delhi Valued Rizvi

Delhi’s reluctance to release Sameer Rizvi proved critical. The franchise sees tremendous potential in the young uncapped batter and wasn’t willing to sacrifice him, even to land a player of Samson’s caliber. This stance ultimately scuttled what would have been a straightforward swap.​

Had the deal gone through, Samson would have returned to his home region, having been born in Kerala but grown up in Delhi. It would have been a homecoming of sorts for the wicketkeeper-batter.

CSK Back in the Picture With the Delhi deal dead, Rajasthan revived earlier discussions with Chennai Super Kings. CSK had initially been approached months ago for a potential swap involving Ravindra Jadeja, but those talks had stalled when Delhi entered the picture.​

Unlike the earlier attempt, both franchises now appear serious about making the deal work. CSK reportedly assigned one of their senior administrators to hold direct discussions with Jadeja, understanding his future plans and gauging his willingness to move.​

A CSK official confirmed their interest to PTI. “Everyone knows we are interested in getting Sanju. We have expressed our interest in procuring him in this trading window. RR is yet to confirm as their management said they are weighing the options. We are hopeful Sanju will play for CSK,” the official said.​

RR’s Additional Demands

Much like with Delhi, Rajasthan wants more than just a straight swap with Chennai. Beyond Jadeja, the names of Sam Curran and Matheesha Pathirana have been discussed as potential additions to the deal.​

However, CSK are reportedly unwilling to part with Pathirana, the young Sri Lankan pacer they highly value. This has led to England all-rounder Sam Curran emerging as the likely second player in the trade package.​

According to reports, names of Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube also came up during discussions but were rejected by CSK. Rajasthan have been very proactive in extracting maximum value from this transaction.​

Samson’s RR Journey

Samson has been the face of Rajasthan Royals for over a decade, joining them in 2013 at just 19 years old. He was retained ahead of the 2014 season and quickly became one of their key players.​

He led the franchise in 67 matches, winning and losing 33 each—a perfectly balanced record. His best IPL season came in 2024 when he scored 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47. Based on this form, RR retained him for Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2025 season.​

Despite his success, Samson has reportedly expressed a desire to leave Rajasthan, seeking a fresh challenge after seven seasons. Multiple franchises have shown interest over recent months.​

Impact on MS Dhoni

If the CSK trade materializes, it could affect MS Dhoni’s playing time. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had expressed optimism about Dhoni returning for the 2026 season, but acquiring Samson might reduce Dhoni’s on-field appearances.​

“We are extremely hopeful that he (MS Dhoni) will be playing the next season,” Viswanathan told Times of India. However, with Samson as the primary wicketkeeper, Dhoni’s role could be limited to occasional matches or specific situations.​

The November 15 Deadline

The IPL retention deadline is set for November 15, giving franchises just days to finalize trades. For any deal involving Samson to go through, all players involved must provide written consent before the franchises can proceed with final negotiations. The IPL governing council must then approve the trade.​

If negotiations with CSK also collapse, Samson could be released into the auction pool. However, that scenario seems unlikely given the active discussions between the two franchises.​

What Went Wrong with Delhi

The Delhi trade came tantalizingly close before RR’s insistence on getting both Stubbs and Rizvi proved too much. It’s a reminder that IPL trades involve complex negotiations where one extra demand can derail an otherwise agreed deal.​

Had Rajasthan been satisfied with just Stubbs, Samson would likely be preparing to don Delhi colors. Instead, he appears headed to Chennai—assuming CSK and RR can agree on whether Curran or Pathirana joins Jadeja in the swap.