Amidst the feverish trade talk, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shared a special birthday message for Sanju Samson. “More power to you, Sanju! Wishing you a super birthday!” - read CSK's post, which seemed more like a soft introduction of their next big signing than a neutral greeting.
The message was released just hours after several reports emerged that the deal involving Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Sanju Samson is proceeding as planned. All three players have given their approval, and the paperwork is anticipated to be finished within 48 hours.
The silence from CSK and Rajasthan Royals (RR) thus far can be explained by IPL regulations, which state that once franchises initiate a transfer, the league and, in Curran's case, the ECB must approve the transaction before it becomes official.
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From the cricketing point of view, the move is simple to comprehend. Over the past few seasons, Samson has been among the top-order batters in the IPL. In addition to leading RR to the IPL 2022 finals and having a win percentage above 51, he has amassed over 4,300 IPL runs with a strike-rate near 140.
A 31-year-old Indian keeper-batter with proven leadership qualities is practically the ideal succession plan for CSK, who are searching for an ideal replacement for MS Dhoni.
However, there is an intriguing sub-plot: Samson has a poor record in Chepauk, scoring only 59 runs in five IPL innings with a strike-rate of 100 and an average of 11.80. Turning his toughest venue into his new stronghold will be one of his first tasks if the trade is successful.
As of right now, the birthday post has merely fueled a fire that was already roaring.
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