“Sanju might have spoken to Dhoni” – Former India batter reacts to CSK-RR trade reports ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson must have spoken to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni amid reports that the two teams will trade Samson with Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2026. The cricketer-turned-analyst predicted that Samson might also be appointed as captain by the five-time IPL champions in the future. The 44-year-old added that the indication is clear that Dhoni would retire from the franchise after the IPL 2026 season.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said:

“If Samson is likely to join CSK, there would be a lot of calls. Sanju must have called on the phone. Behind the scenes, there are a lot of phone calls. Sanju might have spoken to CSK, maybe Dhoni, ‘Bhai kya lagta hai.’ See, Dhoni runs the team, and if CSK wants Sanju this time, then he is also the future captain. It also means that this is Dhoni’s last year. Why would they want Sanju? Jadeja has been playing for them for a long time (since 2012).”

Kaif further backed Samson to succeed at Chepauk Stadium, while lauding him for his attacking game, especially against spinners in the middle order, with the ability to hit sixes at will. He continued:

“The style of batting Sanju Samson has, he is more likely to succeed with the bat in Chennai than Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul. He might come at No. 3 or 4, and he can hit sixes in the middle overs.”

“We left Jadeja, our match-winner over the years, but we need a future captain” – Mohammad Kaif explains why CSK would leave Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2026

Mohammad Kaif explained that CSK needs a future captain, and Sanju Samson fits the bill. The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja failed to lead the side after being appointed as captain in 2022. He said in the same video:

“The two players started playing IPL in 2008. Ever since he went to CSK, he hasn’t left it. If the trade is successful, this is Dhoni’s last year. There is also a chance that Dhoni might leave in the middle. If Sanju comes and starts to play, he gets comfortable with the management and Dhoni. In that case, Dhoni might ask Sanju to take over. We left Jadeja, our match-winner over the years, but we need a future captain.”

“They previously made Jadeja the captain. He couldn’t manage things. He didn’t like the leadership. In the middle, he said that he can’t do it. Not all players can do captaincy in the IPL. In the long-term plan, Dhoni wants to sacrifice Jadeja to bring in a player who can take over leadership after the Dhoni era,” he added.

As per ESPNcricinfo, the Royals are trading Sanju Samson for the Super Kings' all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.