Sanju Samson represented Rajasthan Royals for 11 seasons before his move to Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026. The trade between the two franchises saw Samson head to CSK in exchange for allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, marking one of the most high-profile player trades in IPL history. Samson joined CSK for INR 18 crore, while Jadeja’s fee was revised to INR 14 crore and Curran’s fee remains INR 2.4 crore.

During his time with Rajasthan Royals, Samson led the franchise in five IPL seasons from 2021 to 2025. Under his leadership, Rajasthan Royals reached the final in the 2022 season. Across his IPL career, Samson scored over 4500 runs. Samson opened up about the decision to leave the franchise that had been his home for over a decade.

“Leaving Rajasthan Royals was a huge risk. Once you convey your feelings to the franchise, there is no going back. You could end up in a team you don’t want to go to or even in the auction with no certainty. There were two reasons behind this decision. First, I was sure that 2025 would be my last season with RR. I had long conversations with my family and my wife. They kept asking me if it was an impulsive decision or if I was really sure,” said Samson on JioStar’s Superstars.

“We discussed it for two or three weeks, and then we decided it was time. I was convinced it was the right call. Second, I am a confident person. I believe I can stand on my own. I am always ready to start from zero. Many people told me that my batting style might not suit the slow Chepauk wicket. Those thoughts did cross my mind. But then I told myself, ‘You are 30 years old. Go out and find a way.’ This IPL season, I went in with a lot of energy, thinking I had to achieve something. I discovered a new energy there, and it was working very well for me,” he added.

Adapting to CSK and overcoming early setbacks

Samson’s early CSK experience included three consecutive losses and personal struggles with form. However, he highlighted the unwavering support from the team management and his teammates during that difficult period. The batter emphasised that despite the pressure of joining a new franchise and the expectations that come with it, the backing he received from CSK proved invaluable in helping him navigate the challenging start to his IPL 2026 campaign.

“In T20 cricket, failure is common. In this format, you tend to fail more than you succeed. So, when you are going through a rough patch, you need people around you who understand that failure is part of the game. When I joined CSK, I failed in my first three games. We lost all three, and I didn’t score runs. I had just come off playing in the World Cup final, but I wasn’t able to carry that form into the IPL,” said Samson.

“In that situation, no matter how experienced you are, you know that the coach expects more, the captain expects more, and Mahi bhai is watching you. So I went to the nets, worked on my game, and stayed in my zone. I was more mature this time around and I knew what I had to do. But what really stood out was that the response from the team management and my teammates didn’t change even one per cent. When I failed three matches in a row, their faith in me never wavered. That meant a lot to me,” he added.

Joe Root is set to be renamed England’s Test captain ahead of their three-match series against Pakistan next month, according to The Athletic. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are in search of a new captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket at the end of their series against New Zealand. 

It seems like the search would end with the Yorkshireman taking the reins of the side four years after passing over the baton to Stokes ahead of the 2022 summer, which ultimately kickstarted the ‘Bazball’ era alongside head coach Brendon McCullum. 

It is worth mentioning that Root took charge of the Test side on an interim basis during the second Test against the Kiwis at the Oval in the wake of Stokes’ unavailability following the infamous nightclub controversy. England, however, suffered a 253-run defeat on that occasion, resulting in a 2-1 series defeat. 

According to the aforementioned source, Root’s second stint as England’s Test captain could extend to next summer’s home Ashes series against Australia. This will allow fellow Yorkshireman and current Test vice-captain Harry Brook to focus on his role as white-ball captain without burdening him with leadership of all three formats. 

Should Root take charge of the side, his first proper assignment will be a three-match series against South Africa away from home. However, as a good omen for the Three Lions, they won their last series in Africa 3-1 back in 2020 under the leadership of the talismanic batter. Root will also captain England against Australia in a one-off day-night Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket after a series away to Bangladesh.

Marcus Trescothick set to be appointed interim head coach

Apart from a Test captain, England also needed a new red-ball head coach after McCullum stood down from the role. According to The Athletic, current batting coach Marcus Trescothick could take charge of the side on an interim basis for the home series against Pakistan, starting from August 19.

There is still a minute possibility that the ECB will announce a permanent coach ahead of the three-match series. However, it is far more likely that the former opening batter will be in the dugout for the series against Pakistan. The reports also suggest that Richard Dawson, the current head coach of Glamorgan, could serve as an assistant, giving him some much-needed experience since he is also on the head coach shortlist. 

England’s search for a Test coach took a setback when Andy Flower ruled himself out of contention to focus on his franchise duties with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit. 

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed how a timely conversation with MS Dhoni helped him overcome a poor start to his IPL 2026 campaign for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Samson entered the tournament on the back of a memorable T20 World Cup 2026, where he played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign and was named the Player of the Tournament. However, his return to franchise cricket did not go as planned, as he managed scores of 6, 7, and 9 in his first three outings for the five-time champions.

Despite the lean run, Dhoni advised the wicketkeeper-batter to remain calm and continue playing his natural game instead of trying to make unnecessary changes.

“I still remember, Mahi bhai met me after the first three matches when we went for practice. I usually sit right behind him, facing him. So, we sat down, and he looked at me and asked if I was fine. I said, ‘Bhaiya, I am fine.’ Then I kept saying ‘but’ and ‘yes’ without even realising it. Then he told me, ‘Don’t get into but. Just focus on doing what you do best. Everything will be alright.’ It was very subtle, but a huge lesson for me. He was telling me that everything is okay. Just because I was failing didn’t mean I had to change my batting style, look like I was stressed, or practice for three extra hours,” Samson said on JioStar’s Superstars show.

Samson said Dhoni’s words gave him renewed confidence and strengthened his belief that he only needed one good innings to get back into form. He also revealed that he reassured head coach Stephen Fleming that things would soon turn around.

“At that moment, I felt I really had to perform for them. Then I told Stephen Fleming, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be fine in the next game.’ And in the next game, I scored a hundred against Delhi Capitals. From there, the momentum came back,” he continued.

The right-hander delivered on his promise in emphatic fashion, smashing an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls against Delhi Capitals in Chennai. His knock, which featured 15 fours and four sixes, came at a blistering strike rate of 205.35 and marked the beginning of a successful run with the bat.

Samson went on to enjoy an impressive IPL 2026 campaign after overcoming his slow start. In 14 innings, the right-hander amassed 477 runs at an average of 43.36 and an outstanding strike rate of 165.63, playing a key role in Chennai Super Kings’ batting lineup.