Not many saw it coming when Chennai Super Kings brought in Sanju Samson before the IPL auction. Former India spinner Anil Kumble thinks it lines up well with what the team requires. Moving out wasn’t easy – Sam Curran plus Ravindra Jadeja headed to Rajasthan Royals in exchange. Now wearing yellow, Samson shifts after years under the RR banner. He stood as their main figure across eleven seasons on the field. Change arrives quietly, even if it follows long loyalty.
From one champion to the next, Anil Kumble noted how India’s cricket story moves forward – names like Sunil Gavaskar, then Sachin Tendulkar, followed by Virat Kohli, now MS Dhoni shaping its path. A quiet shift, yet clear, spoken during his time on JioStar.
From somewhere deep in memory, Kumble brought up past World Cups. Samson happens to have ties to Kerala, speaks Tamil, keeps wickets while batting, plus he’s been around long enough. All of it lines up without forcing anything.
“Icons from one generation to another, the baton has passed on in Indian cricket, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin, then to Virat, with MS Dhoni also part of that era. You had the likes of Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly before the shift to MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, who still carry that aura and continue to perform. In that sense, Sanju coming in is a great move for CSK. The icing on the cake is his fantastic form leading into the IPL and winning the World Cup for India with three back-to-back knocks,” Kumble said.
“I’m sure that will certainly contribute to the franchise’s fan following. From a Chennai perspective, he fits their need, being Kerala-born, speaks Tamil, so there’s a connect, a wicketkeeper-batter, so in a similar mould to MS, and his experience will be valuable for CSK,” he added.
Beyond just batting, Sanju Samson has worn the captain’s hat before – that counts. Anil Kumble sees fit for him to step into a deputy spot with Chennai, should things shift. Leading Rajasthan taught him pressure moments. Someone who’s held responsibility tends to steady others. Not every player grows through command like he did. A quiet strength shows when decisions pile up. That kind of presence often slips under noise until needed.
“I think that’s the perfect role for Sanju, handling those responsibilities almost like a vice-captain. He has captained Rajasthan for a long period of time, so that leadership role comes naturally to him, and that’s something CSK will be looking for. Last year, when Ruturaj was injured, MS had to take over, and previously, when Ravindra Jadeja was also captain, MS Dhoni came back in as captain midway through the season. So there have been some challenges in identifying who the next captain would be for MS. Ruturaj was identified, and it is good that he continues as captain despite Sanju coming into the scheme of things,” Kumble said.
” I wouldn’t be surprised if MS Dhoni gives Sanju the keeping role at some point during the season. He will be part of the leadership group, and in case if Ruturaj is unavailable due to injury or otherwise, Sanju would probably take over rather than MS,” the former Indian cricketer added.
