Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Robin Uthappa has shared his take on media reports about Sanju Samson parting ways with Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026.
There are strong rumors about his trade circling across social media, possibly with Chennai Super Kings. He also shared his opinion on the same, saying that it would make both parties happy.
Uthappa said that considering how the Royals used Sanju Samson the batter in IPL 2025, him leaving the franchise was always a matter of time ahead of the new season.
Also Read: Sanju Samson to CSK for IPL 2026? Rajasthan Royals Want Two Players in Return - Report
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Sanju Samson Trying To Be Ahead Of The Curve - Robin Uthappa
The Royals invested heavily in the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag in the last few years. Last year, they unearthed a new player in Vaibhav Suryavanshi, prompting Samson to bat at four in the lineup. Uthaa explained the scenario, saying that with the Royals looking towards the youngsters and Samson particularly willing to open in the IPL as he opens for India in the T20Is, the Kerela cricketer had no option but to move away from the Royals and find a team where he can bat in the top-order. Meanwhile, Samson has officially requested the Royals to release him ahead of the next mini-auction.
"They have both Yashasvi, who has done really well for them, and Suryavanshi has absolutely smacked it out of the park, and Riyan Parag likes to bat at number three. Where does that leave Sanju Samson? A number four spot. Would I want to bat at number four when I am opening for India? Absolutely not. From his perspective, he probably felt that perhaps that won't change at RR, and they back their youngsters, quite a bit, don't they” said Uthappa.
"That has been the culture there at RR. So he probably sees it as a writing on the wall, perhaps, and so perhaps, he's trying to get a little bit ahead of the curve a little bit and say, 'let me move now' so that I can go elsewhere and open the batting and still vie for that position at the top of the order in the Indian team. So that's perhaps a small reasoning as well” he further added.
Also Read: DPL 2025: Watch - Harshit Rana Breaks A Bail And Gets Into Trouble For Aggressive Send-Off
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Uthappa Provides Solution To Rumored Samson Trade
Meanwhile, just a few days after the news regarding Samson broke, rumors of Ravichandran Ashwin leaving CSK also started making the rounds. Uthappa, meanwhile, has suggested a solution to the issue at hand. He said that CSK can trade Samson by giving away Ashwin and someone like Vijay Shankar, who is a handy lower-order all-rounder.
"What they don't have? They only have Shimron Hetmyer at six. They don't have a finisher at number six or seven. Maybe Sam Curran. Vijay Shankar could be the one who goes with Ashwin as well. That could happen. He's a pretty decent bowler, but they haven't utilised him. I think perhaps Rajasthan also feel Sanju doesn't want to be there anymore, so if a player doesn't want to be there, why do we have to keep him? Give him what he wants. In that sense, I think it makes sense for them," Uthappa said.
Also Read: No Duleep Trophy for Sanju Samson as Selection Favors Consistent and Commited Performers
