Not CSK, Aakash Chopra identifies KKR 'most desperate team' to rope Sanju Samson, explains why

Aakash Chopra identifies Kolkata Knight Riders 'most desperate team' to rope Sanju Samson (AFP Photo)

The talk in the circles has been centered on Sanju Samson's rumored trade agreement following a mixed season with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. According to a report published by The Indian Express on Thursday, the Kerala batter has officially told the Royals that he wants to leave the team, ending his lengthy affiliation with the Jaipur-based squad.

Samson was linked to a move to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently, but former India opener Aakash Chopra believed that a side more desperate than the five-time champions may sign the Rajasthan captain soon.

The report by the newspaper also mentioned that Samson met the CSK management and head coach Stephen Fleming during the Major League Cricket season in the United States after IPL 2025. Chennai is reportedly amenable to the notion of bringing the 30-year-old to Chepauk in exchange for cash.

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However, Aakash Chopra believes that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — three-time IPL champions — could be the most eager to reunite with Sanju Samson. KKR were the first to spot his potential, signing him back in 2012.

Despite clinching their third title under Shreyas Iyer in 2024, the franchise had opted to release young Mumbaikar and passed the captaincy duties to veteran Ajinkya Rahane. Chopra pointed out that Rahane’s advancing age and limited batting flexibility, coupled with KKR’s lack of a reliable Indian wicketkeeper, could make Samson an attractive trade target for the franchise.

“The first name that comes to my mind is not CSK. KKR should be the most desperate team. KKR don’t have an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, and that just ties their hands behind their back. Secondly, what’s wrong if you get a captain? I am not denying that Ajinkya Rahane has captained well and has scored runs as well,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

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“However, Ajinkya Rahane as a batter, either he opens or else the batting order has been a bit of a problem. They have a player they can release as well. If they wish, they can release Venkatesh Iyer, free up nearly ₹24 crore, and then they can actually make a difference,” he added.

Prior to the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Rajasthan established an Indian core and severed ties with England star Jos Buttler. Their initial hopes were placed on Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal but things didn't fall as per plans.

“Why would Sanju Samson want to leave? It’s interesting because when the last mega auction happened, they let Jos Buttler go, and I felt they let Jos Buttler go because Yashasvi had come and Sanju wanted to open, and Sanju and Rajasthan Royals were really, really thick,” he said.

“I felt there would have been a massive input from Sanju in the players they retained or released. However, now it seems it might not have been there. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has come, so two openers are already ready, and you also want to bat Dhruv Jurel up the order. So Sanju wishes to leave. If he is thinking like that, it’s possible. These are conjectures. I don’t know what’s in his and Rajasthan’s minds,” Chopra observed.