Head coach Stephen Fleming explained how MS Dhoni’s future as a CSK cricketer influenced the five-time winners’ choice to bring Sanju Samson into the franchise in exchange for Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja.
CSK were thinking beyond Dhoni’s career and that’s why they introduced Samson in the set-up, said Fleming. The Kerala cricketer is a mere 31 and if he can keep his fitness up and form intact, there is another cycle that the team can cash-in on. MS Dhoni on the other hand is now in the twilight of his career at 44.
“For us, the opportunity was there. We felt we were still a little bit light in our opening batting. And we were also looking at the fact that at some point, MS will move on,” Fleming said at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi.
“Sanju is an international-quality player, and he fills that role very well. So it’s succession planning, but also about refreshing the group and looking at what Chennai will look like in six years, not just two.”
Stephen Fleming
CSK has long been known for signing experienced players who have seen and done it all. However, the IPL 2026 auction saw them change their strategy as they invested significantly in the kids, keeping an eye on the future.
Meanwhile, the Men in Yellow roped in Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer for 14.2 crores each. Whereas Kartik is an aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman, Veer can smash sixes at will and also bowl spin. The Super Kings have also opted for Matt Henry and Akeal Hosein to bolster their bowling contingent.
Sarfaraz Khan, another tactical pick for CSK, cost only INR 75 lakh. The Mumbai batsman can also keep wickets and will provide a fresh dimension to the team. On Tuesday, he scored an incredible 73 off 22 balls against Rajasthan in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
