The arrival of Sanju Samson is widely seen as the beginning of a new era for the Chennai Super Kings, with the India opener expected to step into the enormous shoes of the legendary MS Dhoni. CSK have
already appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as Dhoni’s captaincy successor a couple of seasons ago and Samson is expected to become the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter once the five-time IPL winning skipper steps away.
Samson joined CSK last year in a blockbuster trade reportedly worth Rs 18 crore, with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran moving to the Rajasthan Royals as part of the deal.
Dhoni is nearing the end of his playing career, with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggesting that IPL 2026 could be the final season of the 44-year-old’s illustrious journey. His eventual departure will leave a significant void in the CSK setup, but the franchise has already begun planning for the future.
Spin legend Anil Kumble believes Samson is a key part of that transition and could slot into the leadership group as an unofficial vice-captain, given his extensive experience leading RR.
“I think that’s the perfect role for Sanju — handling responsibilities almost like a vice-captain. He has captained Rajasthan for a long time, so leadership comes naturally to him. That’s exactly what CSK will be looking for,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.
“Last year, when Ruturaj was injured, MS had to step in. Earlier, when Ravindra Jadeja was captain, Dhoni returned midway through the season. So there have been challenges in identifying a long-term successor. It’s good that Ruturaj continues as captain despite Sanju’s arrival,” he added.
In the past, Dhoni has resumed captaincy duties when Gaikwad was unavailable. However, Kumble believes that if a similar situation arises in IPL 2026, Samson could be the one to step in.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if MS Dhoni hands over the wicketkeeping role to Sanju at some point during the season. He’ll be part of the leadership group, and if Ruturaj is unavailable — due to injury or otherwise — Sanju would likely take over rather than MS,” Kumble said.
