A batsman from the Indian wicketkeeper Saint Samson you talked about the emotional decision to leave Rajasthan Royals after more than a decade with the franchise, they admit it was among the most difficult choices of their careers. However, the opportunity to join Chennai Super Kingswhere he already shares strong relationships with MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwadhe convinced himself that it was the right step. After captaining Rajasthan Royals for five seasons, Samson joined CSK through a trade ahead of IPL 2026. Reflecting on the move, he said there came a point when he felt he and the franchise were ready to move in different directions. “Moving from RR was a very big decision for me. I believe that after playing for a team for some time, you start to feel that this is your team and no one can take you away. But, I always had the awareness that there is a limited time for everyone in a place,” Samson told JioStar’s ‘Superstars’. “Do your part, and move out and after the end of IPL 2025, a point came when I felt I should move on. I said the boys are ready, and RR is ready to play without Sanju Samson. That’s when I thought of leaving,” he added. Although many teams are interested, Samson said CSK stood out because of the environment, the people around the franchise and Dhoni’s influence. “There were two or three options at that time. But honestly, CSK, Mahi bhai’s influence, the franchise itself, and my friends there, especially Ruturaj, meant that I had great connections. Based on what I heard about CSK from other players, I felt that this franchise was my type. “If I go there, it will be very good for me. I wanted for that, but a trade is a complicated thing. I want to go there, but do they want me? And the original team needs to get what they want in return. Everyone has to agree. It was a major turning point. Fortunately, I ended up in CSK. It was a great feeling,” he said. Samson also looked back on his childhood admiration for Dhoni, revealing that the former India captain inspired him to dream of representing the country one day. “The way he carried himself and his aggressive batting style really attracted me. He had appeared in advertisements, and I cut out his picture and put it in my diary. Every boy has an idol, and Mahi bhai was mine. “As a kid, I used to watch India play every day. Mahi bhai would be captain and win matches. I would go to sleep thinking, ‘I will play one day too’. I would dream of batting with him, building a partnership and fielding alongside him.” Now a CSK player, Samson said he still hopes to fulfill that dream by sharing the crease with Dhoni, who has missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to a calf injury. The 31-year-old also recalled how his IPL career began in 2013 with Rajasthan Royals. Frustrated after spending the opening games on the bench, he approached the captain Rahul Dravidwho urged him to be patient. “I calmly explained that I needed to be patient and that my time would come. I was frustrated and disappointed after hearing that, so I took all my anger out on the networks. I’ll go to the nets and hit six, thinking, ‘I’ll show you.’ Their opportunity came only after wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik suffered an injury. “There was no plan to play me, but Dishant bhai got injured for one match. So, they played me against Punjab (then KXIP), which was my IPL debut in 2013, and I won that game for the team. “It was my first match. I scored 27 not out batting at number 6. I also had three-four dismissals while keeping wickets. But in the next match, Dishant bhai was in form again, and I dropped out.”