'Riyan Parag Is The Reason'! Ex-CSK Star Ponders Why Sanju Samson Is Leaving RR
S Badrinath suggests Riyan Parag's influence in Rajasthan Royals may have led Sanju Samson to request a release. Parag led RR in IPL 2025 when Samson was injured.
Former India batter S Badrinath has suggested that Riyan Parag's growing influence within the Rajasthan Royals (RR) setup may be the key reason behind reports of Sanju Samson requesting a release from the franchise. On his YouTube channel, Badrinath highlighted that Parag not only led RR in the first three matches of IPL 2025 but also took over as captain when Samson was sidelined with an abdominal injury.
Badrinath remarked that considering Parag for captaincy might be the reason for Samson's departure, questioning the leadership decisions of RR.
'I feel Riyan Parag is the reason. If you consider him for captaincy, how do you expect someone like Samson to stay?" Badrinath, who has played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
How Can Sanju Samson Even Fit In At CSK?
He further speculated on Samson's potential future if he were to join CSK, noting that while Samson could be a suitable replacement for MS Dhoni, fitting him into the playing XI could be challenging. With established players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brevis in the top and middle order, opportunities in Samson's preferred batting positions might be limited.
Badrinath pointed out that Samson prefers to play in the top three or four positions and is unlikely to fit in at number five or six, where CSK already have strong players. He expressed doubts about CSK making a trade similar to Mumbai Indians' for Hardik Pandya, questioning if CSK could accommodate Samson in their playing XI even if he joins.
'If Sanju Samson does come to CSK, then he could be the like-for-like replacement for MS Dhoni. Samson is a batter who can bat in the top three or four spots in the batting order. He is not someone who could fit in the number five or six spot in the playing XI. CSK are strong in those areas of the playing XI. Mhatre is settled, Gaikwad is settled, Brevis is settled," Badrinath said.
'I am not sure if CSK would do a transaction like MI did to get Hardik Pandya from GT. So even if Sanju Samson comes in, the question remains whether CSK can fit him into the playing XI," he added.
Samson has been a cornerstone for RR, featuring in 149 matches, scoring over 4,000 runs, and holding franchise records for both appearances and total runs. However, injuries impacted his 2025 campaign, causing him to miss five matches during which Parag took over as captain. RR's season ended disappointingly, finishing second from the bottom with only four wins. Samson's most recent international appearance came in February against England.
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