Robin Uthappa, former CSK wicketkeeper, suggested that Vijay Shankar and Ravichandran Ashwin could be traded to RR for Sanju Samson based on trade rumors.
Reports say Samson and Ashwin want to leave RR and CSK respectively and have told their teams about it. Samson is seen as a replacement for MS Dhoni while Ashwin has a history with RR where he was a key bowler till 2024.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said RR already have good players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Riyan Parag in important batting roles. He wondered where that leaves Samson, suggesting the captain might have to bat at number 4 – a position he may not want since he opens for India.
Uthappa said the wicketkeeper-batter might have seen this coming especially since RR backs young players. He thinks Samson might be trying to get ahead by moving now, hoping to open elsewhere and keep his spot at the top of India’s batting order.
Uthappa said: They have Yashasvi and Suryavanshi who has played very well and Riyan Parag likes to bat at number 3. So where does that leave Sanju Samson? At number 4. If I were him, I wouldn’t want to bat at number 4 when I’m opening for India. He probably felt that things at RR wouldn’t change since they back their youngsters.
That has been RR’s culture. So he probably sees the writing on the wall maybe and he’s moving now so he can open the batting somewhere else and keep his spot at the top of the Indian team’s batting order. That might be why.
Some reports say RR is willing to trade Samson but wants two CSK players in return though this hasn’t been confirmed.
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CSK is a good fit. If they can get him, it would be great for him, Uthappa said on his YouTube channel. I think Sanju could take over from MS Dhoni as the next wicketkeeper. If not, they might have to consider Devon Conway as a wicketkeeping option. Getting Samson would really benefit CSK.What do they lack? They only have Shimron Hetmyer at 6. They don’t have a finisher at 6 or 7. Maybe Sam Curran. Vijay Shankar could be included with Ashwin. He’s a good bowler but they haven’t used him much.
Shankar, who played in the 2019 World Cup for India, hasn’t had a great IPL career, with 1233 runs at a strike rate under 130 and 9 wickets in 78 matches. For CSK, he played 7 matches, scored 118 runs but bowled only once.
Ashwin’s CSK salary is 9.75 crore and Shankar’s is 1.2 crore. To trade Samson who earns 18 crore at RR, CSK would also have to give around 7.5 crore to the Royals.
