One of the most talked-about subjects leading up to the IPL 2026 retentions is the possible transfer of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja to Rajasthan Royals (RR). Should the deal go through, CSK would be getting an established wicketkeeper-batter in exchange for a world-class all-rounder.
Kris Srikkanth, a former cricket player for India, commented on the debate, saying that although Samson is a great player, CSK’s balance greatly depends on having good all-rounders. He added that Urvil Patel is already in the lineup and might be developed for the position if the team is searching for a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni.
“Who is your all-round player for CSK without Jadeja? In the Twenty20 format, having an all-round player is crucial.
Samson is excellent, so I’m not underestimating him. According to what I’ve read, Sanju Samson will gradually emerge as Dhoni’s replacement. But you already have Urvil Patel for that. On his YouTube account, Srikkanth stated, “He’s a wicketkeeper batter as well.”
“CSK will need to look for another all-round player after Jadeja leaves. Cameron Green, for example, is not a tried-and-true candidate. He’s not a very good all-around player. He can fill in the four overs and bowl as a batter. He’s not a bowler who can kill. Jadeja’s batting, bowling, and fielding skills can win games,” he continued.
Srikkanth also discussed his impressions of Jadeja and Samson’s IPL 2025 play. He noted that Jadeja had a poor campaign and frequently had few batting opportunities because he entered the game in the final overs. However, Samson, who typically starts the innings, needs to do more than simply get his team off to a strong start; he also needs to anchor the innings and take the game to the next level.
“Jadeja hasn’t had many good batting opportunities over the past two years either. He would enter with just two balls remaining. It was unfortunate that even the crowd would wait for him to exit so that Dhoni could enter. Yes, in the 2025 season, his strike rate wasn’t lethal. However, one must observe his batting position and the game’s circumstances at that time. He is not at the top of the hierarchy. There are only 10–12 balls to play at that time because he usually arrives at 6 or 7, according to Srikkanth.
“Not even Sanju Samson has a stellar IPL 2025 record. When he is batting at the top of the order, it is not good because he only recently begun most games. How many significant runs did he score as an opener? Just one, about sixty. Urvil Patel has been giving starts, but anyone can do so. I don’t mean to disparage Sanju Samson. Compared to Jadeja, this is only Samson. “Samson is an excellent cricket player,” he said.
India
