Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad [Source: CSK]CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad recently shared an interesting story about his past conversation with Sanju Samson. This discussion happened a few years ago, long before the changes seen ahead of IPL 2026. At that time, Samson was still strongly connected with Rajasthan Royals, a team he represented for many seasons. Their bond stretched across 12 seasons in two phases, making him one of the most loyal players in the league.Sanju Samson's impressive career with Royals During his time with Rajasthan, Samson built an impressive record. He scored 4027 runs in 149 matches, with his highest score being 119. He also managed to score two centuries. In addition, he proved his leadership skills by guiding the team to the IPL 2022 final and later into the playoffs in 2024. Over time, he became the team’s most successful captain as well as their leading run-scorer. In November, a major trade took place. Sanju Samson moved to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja went to Rajasthan Royals. This marked the end of Samson’s long journey with Rajasthan. At the same time, it opened a new chapter in his career.Also Read: MS Dhoni Replacements- Full List Of IPL Players Available For CSK To Pounce OnThis move surprised many fans. However, Gaikwad’s recent revelation shows that this shift may have been something Samson had thought about earlier.Ruturaj Gaikwad recalled past conversation with SamsonRuturaj Gaikwad recalled meeting Samson in England a few years ago. During that meeting, Samson showed curiosity about CSK. He asked about the team environment, the culture, and the overall experience.“I remember a conversation we had two to three years back, we were in England. You know, he was asking about what is happening in CSK, how things are, and all that. And I said, I feel being a South boy, you should explore this opportunity, you should be here,” Ruturaj said on Podcast, in a conversation with Abhinav Mukund.Sanju Samson reveals his desire to play for CSKAt that time, Gaikwad was not the captain. MS Dhoni was still leading the team regularly. Even then, Gaikwad made it clear that he enjoyed being part of CSK mainly for its atmosphere rather than leadership ambitions.“I don’t know if I was the first one or not (to bring this up to him) but I mean, we have been friends for a long time now and we we have been in and out of the Indian team, we kind of had the same journey, same struggles. So that’s what I had expressed to him. The first thing I said to him when he asked will you be the next captain… I said I don’t know, I don’t really care about captaincy, I like playing here, I like the atmosphere," Ruturaj Gaikwad added.“I like how the culture is and I am really happy as a player as well. He, in fact, immediately replied ‘I don’t want to come in a situation where I want to be the captain there, I want to play under you, it is your team, it is your franchise and I will be happy to be there just as a player, but whenever I get an opportunity, I would definitely love to come," he further added. Big changes in CSK ahead of IPL 2026As IPL 2026 approaches, CSK are dealing with a few challenges. MS Dhoni will miss the first two weeks of the season. As a result, Sanju Samson is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties during this period. The team has not yet confirmed when Dhoni will return.At the same time, Ruturaj Gaikwad has revealed a key change in the batting order. He and Samson will open the innings together. This decision comes after a difficult previous season where the team struggled with its top order. Several combinations were tested, yet none delivered consistent results.Meanwhile, CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati. The team will then play its first home game in Chennai on April 3 against Punjab Kings.Also Read: Mumbai Indians Lose 2 Foreign Players For IPL 2026 Before Kolkata Knight Riders Opener
