Team India batter Sanju Samson recalled a key moment from the IPL 2026 season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, Samson was traded from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to CSK ahead of IPL 2026. He failed to do well in the first three games, scoring only in single digits. However, he also revealed that the team had a good environment, with the coach and captain being able to understand his situation. Sanju Samson also recalled having a conversation with MS Dhoni as well after the first three games and how he guided him.

“It is a huge franchise with a huge following, and people are very emotionally connected. For me, though, that dressing room feel was important. That’s where I fall in line with Fleming, Gaikwad and Mahi bhai. When you fail, you need good people around you to understand that failure. When I went to CSK, I failed the first three games. But there was not even 1% change in the response from them. Mahi bhai asked me if I was okay after those three games. I told him I am okay but, and he told me don’t get into the ‘but’. That was a subtle but big lesson for me,” he said in a conversation with Aakash Chopra for Star Sports.

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“After playing for a while, you feel this is your team, and nobody can remove you from there. But I always had an awareness that there is a limited time for everyone. You do your part and move out when you want to. So one point came where I felt like not anymore. I think I should move on and got a feeling that RR is ready to play without Samson. So I thought of moving out then. There were two to three options, but there was Mahi bhai’s influence. I thought it would be good if I went to CSK. But trade is a funny thing. I wanted to go, but what about whether they wanted me or not,” he shared again.

However, Sanju Samson also shared that MS Dhoni was his idol while growing up. He recalled having cutouts of Dhoni in his diary and dreaming of playing with him. Unfortunately, Dhoni did not play the IPL 2026 season due to injury despite
being with the team as well. However, Sanju Samson was hopeful that his dream of playing with Dhoni would come true in the next season as well.

“The way MS Dhoni used to carry himself and his aggressive batting style attracted me in my school days. I used to keep his cutouts and keep them in my diary. He was my idol. I got one game to play with him when we were playing for India A against England A but I got out soon. Then I joined CSK, and destiny got me here. I thought I would get to play with him. But this time, unfortunately, he was not fit. So the dream to play with him is still alive,” he concluded.