Samson and Dhoni - (Source : @Johns/X.com)
Preparations for IPL 2026 have already begun, as the trade window for next season opened on June 10. Franchises are busy scouting players they can trade in even before the start of the next edition.
In a significant development, reports suggest that CSK and a few other IPL teams are interested in Sanju Samson. This article examines IPL captains who might be willing to leave their current team for another franchise and play as a pure batter.
1. Sanju Samson
Reports of CSK being interested in Sanju Samson for a trade have taken the internet by storm. There are also suggestions of a rift between RR and Samson. Notably, the 30-year-old had a mixed IPL 2025, missing most of the league due to injuries.
RR made several changes this season and faced criticism for releasing players like Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, and Yuzvendra Chahal. There were reports that Samson was unhappy with some management decisions. The decision to have him open the innings also backfired, as Vaibhav Suryavanshi took his place at the top during Samson’s injury and performed well.
The 14-year-old Suryavanshi became an overnight sensation, and now rumours suggest that Samson is looking for a change. If a trade to CSK happens, Sanju is most likely to play as a pure batter, since the Men in Yellow are unlikely to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as their regular skipper.
2. Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane had a brilliant IPL 2025 with the bat but an equally underwhelming season as KKR's captain. Notably, the 2024 IPL winners were the only team before IPL 2025 who were unsure of their captain.
Unlike other franchises, Rahane was picked up in the accelerated round and then made captain. KKR finished 8th on the table, so the three-time winners will likely look to make changes for next season, and Rahane himself may be open to leaving for another team.
At 37, Rahane would likely accept a role purely as a batter for any IPL team, as he previously did when he moved from Rajasthan Royals to Rising Pune Supergiant.
3. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant also had a rough IPL season, where he was under pressure as LSG captain. Pant, who is the most expensive player in the league's history. Rishabh had a failed season minus the century he scored in the last match of the season.
Nonetheless, the history of LSG hasn't been kinder to the players and in particular the captains, which is why Pant won't mind leaving Super Giants for another team and play just as a pure batter to focus on his batting, which saw a dip in the recently concluded season.
