IPL trade: How Sanju Samson’s departure is blessing in disguise for Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson has been traded to Chennai Super Kings (AP Photo)

Sanju Samson has officially joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, ending months of speculations. To bring in the former Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper, CSK had to let go of Jadeja, who had been an integral cog in the five-time champions’ setup for more than a decade. This player-to-player trade is significantly more high-profile and historic when set against Hardik Pandya’s all-cash deal.

Samson leaving RR had become inevitable, particularly after the way he was treated despite being captain. A lot happened behind the scenes that did not please him, and as a result he decided to part ways with the 2008 champions. While Samson wanted out, it ultimately came down to whether the Royals were willing to release their wicketkeeper-batter.

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In a trade deal, the power always lies with the franchise, not the player. So the question now is: was letting go of an active Indian wicketkeeper-batter a smart move, even if it meant bringing in Jadeja and another all-rounder in Sam Curran? The Royals negotiated well with the Super Kings and got what they wanted. Of course, they will miss Samson’s experience, but by trading him they have attempted to fill the gaps in their squad.

Looking at their core group, they have Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Sandeep Sharma. Last season they found a new hero in Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenage sensation who made an instant impact as an opener in Samson’s absence. Now, with Samson gone, RR no longer have the headache of trying to accommodate Suryavanshi. Jaiswal and Suryavanshi are likely to form the opening pair next season.

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Jurel is on the rise with the bat. The UP-based cricketer showed glimpses of brilliance last season, and with more opportunities he is only going to improve. With the gloves, he is a safe pair of hands. After Samson, he becomes the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, Parag and Jurel could form RR’s new-look top four. In that case, RR may not miss Samson as much as expected. Also, Samson is not getting any younger, while all four of the aforementioned players are under 30.

By bringing in Jadeja and Curran, the Royals have tried to add more options in the middle order, which was an area of concern last season. They also struggled in the spin department, and by signing Jadeja, they have attempted to address that weakness.

The challenge for RR will be to find a leader who can bring the stability and calmness that Samson provided during his tenure as captain. But this may not be too daunting. Several franchises, including RR, are in transition. Parag, Jaiswal and Jurel are the frontrunners for the captaincy, while the dark horse is Jadeja.

Considering everything, letting Samson go makes a lot of sense. Sometimes, even the boldest calls are the ones that future-proof a franchise.