Considering that the off-spinner has played for RR in the past, he proposed that CSK might think about trading Ravichandran Ashwin to RR in such a situation. If the top-ranked wicketkeeper-batter is released by the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) may also be a serious contender to recruit him, according to former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra.
According to reports, Samson has asked RR to release him before the IPL 2026 auction. The wicketkeeper-batter is already being pursued by a CSK official. Chopra added that CSK might be the second-most interested team, even though Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) seem the most keen to recruit Samson.
“CSK is the second team that springs to mind. Chennai will be eager. Chennai must now consider options other than MS Dhoni. I’m not predicting if Dhoni will play this season. Although they have brought Urvil Patel, CSK will not use Urvil Patel as their brand. “Anyone who replaces MS Dhoni must be well-known,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
“Ravichandran Ashwin can be released. Rajasthan needs a spinner, so it might be Ashwin plus some cash.
Ravichandran Ashwin has also performed there before. Although I had previously floated Jaddu’s (Ravindra Jadeja) name, he continued, “I don’t think they are going to release him.”
Samson has the power to alter MI’s dynamics: Chopra
As a long-term alternative for MS Dhoni, Chopra said CSK would be considering either Samson or Rishabh Pant. It is unlikely that Pant will be released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he added. Additionally, Chopra suggested that the Mumbai Indians (MI) would be the third team interested in signing Samson, pointing out that his presence might drastically alter MI’s team dynamics.
“The third team that comes to mind is a little unconventional. The Mumbai Indians are that. Their left-handed opening batsman, Ryan Rickelton, is now out of the country. In the end, you’re stuck. You had to bring in Jonny Bairstow after he went, and they are powerless to stop him. He must be released because he arrived after the break. They are unable to retain him. Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma open. It’s a good team, but you’ll want to add Sanju to make it stronger. You can alter the dynamics a little more if you obtain Sanju right away,” he said.
The five-time champions’ captaincy issues were also addressed with the recruitment of Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans (GT), the cricketer-turned-commentator added. Chopra pointed out that the opening spot will require a capable successor, and Samson is the ideal choice, given that Rohit Sharma may be approaching retirement from the IPL.
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