Will Sanju Samson replace MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before IPL 2026? Social media has been flooded with rumours of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain joining the Yellow Army before the next season, but there has been no word from any of the franchises yet. A report, though, has claimed that there is some substance to rumours of Samson's reported move. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been with RR since their return to IPL in 2018. RR retained him before the IPL 2022 and 2025 mega-auctions. Samson first joined RR in 2013. He was named their captain in 2021. RR captained them to the final of IPL 2022. Samson's journey with RR will end if he decides to move on to CSK. Cricbuzz has reported that CSK are looking at the option of signing Samson if he is available. "We are definitely looking at Sanju. He is an Indian batter, who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold. Who we will trade him with we have not taken that call because the matter has not gone that far. But yes, in principle, we are interested," a CSK official told Cricbuzz. The report adds that apart from CSK, a couple of other franchises have also approached RR for Samson. Should Samson join CSK, he would be a direct replacement for MS Dhoni. The India legend is at the fag end of his career and could quit the game after one or two seasons. It's a known fact that Dhoni has a knee issue and he cannot bat for long. "Yeah, it's a time thing. MS judges it. His body is, his knees aren't what they used to be. And he's moving okay, but there's still an attrition aspect to it. He can't bat 10 overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us. If the game's in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So he's balancing that," CSK head coach, Stephen Fleming, said during IPL 2025. CSK retained him in the uncapped category for Rs 4 crore before the IPL 2025 mega-auction. It remains to be seen which player or players CSK will trade to RR if they bring in Samson.