With only one day left for the IPL 2026 retention deadline, the rumours about Sanju Samson being traded to the Chennai Super Kings are getting stronger. It seems almost sure that the Rajasthan Royals star, who has played for them for many years, will join CSK, but the official announcement has not been made yet.
Meanwhile, former CSK batter Robin Uthappa has already started talking about how the CSK team and its batting order might look next season. He has picked this lineup keeping Sanju Samson in mind.
Former IPL winner Uthappa said he is not in favour of Sanju Samson batting lower down the order in T20 matches. He explained that India had tried this recently, but it did not work well, and Samson was even dropped in the middle of the Australia tour.
Uthappa said that if the trade happens, Sanju Samson might become an opening batsman for CSK. He could open with wicket-keeper Urvil Patel or with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Uthappa also said that Samson should open the batting if he wants to show that he can be an opener for India in T20 matches.
According to Indian express, Uthappa said, “I hate the idea of Sanju batting down the order. I think you’ll probably see Sanju and Ruturaj opening the batting, or Sanju or Urvil opening the batting.”
“If Sanju has to continue to push for a spot in the Indian team at the top of the order, he has to open the batting. If he bats anywhere below that number, then he’s doing himself a massive disservice, and they [selectors] will use that as an excuse against [him],” he added.
Last year, Samson was the first opener ever to hit three T20I hundreds in a single year. No other opener has achieved this.
Uthappa also slams the idea of Ruturaj Gaikwad batting at number three in IPL. Last year Gaikwad did not come to bat as an opener and it costed a lot for Chennai Super Kings in the previous season.
Talking about the future of Gaikwad in T20 matches, Uthappa said, ““Funnily enough, Ruturaj wants to bat at No. 3 in T20 cricket, and I don’t understand the logic of that. When he was captain, he wanted to bat at No. 3 till he got injured last year in the IPL. That is so self-defeating because you have just kind of creating a space for yourself in Indian cricket.”
