Aakash Chopra, the former batsman of the India team, has turned down the opening position for the Kerala superstar wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson while choosing the ideal playing XI of Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Aakash Chopra indicated that the opener for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would be the impressive 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who had caught everyone’s attention during his first season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with his good performances along with the CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Sanju Samson’s transfer to CSK from RR
Sanju Samson, after a significant stay at the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and having been a very successful captain, decided to quit the franchise before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
It was a very shocking news for everyone as Sanju Samson was the player that Rajasthan Royals (RR) had chosen to retain first ahead of the IPL 2025 big auction, and the team had really put a lot of trust in him throughout the years.
Yet, Sanju Samson was very determined to leave the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and told the top management about his decision. RR granted Samson’s request for a release and transferred him to the five-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), for INR 18 crore.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) got the brilliant all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and the English all-rounder Sam Curran from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as part of the deal for Samson.
Aakash Chopra has claimed that the finest part of Samson has come as a batter opening the innings, whether it’s for RR or Team India.
The transition of Samson to CSK sparked discussions among fans regarding his position in the batting order of the already stacked Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side.
In the past, the Indian team has used Samson as a T20 batter thus imposing him in the opening slot but recently due to Shubman Gill’s return, the batsman was moved down to the middle-order, and now he is switching places.
During an Interview with JioStar, Aakash Chopra didn’t consider Sanju Samson as a possible opener for CSK and suggested that he could bat at No.3 with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and super-talented kid Ayush Mhatre who would be the opener. He explained:
They need to ask the big question whether Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson are opening. Samson’s best has always been shown as an opener, whether for RR or Team India.”
“We have kept him, this very moment, at three because Ayush Mhatre has been impressive in the few matches he has played so far. If they will be playing like this, they will still need someone at four. You have the overseas options. We have only put in two overseas players from the lot we have. There is no Matheesha Pathirana, who would have been here. Nathan Ellis can take the place of Pathirana. They need to come up with something to have a spinner and a middle-order batter there.”
Dewald Brevis can be the one at number four – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra also mentioned that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) need to solve their spin-bowling problems after the departure of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and should acquire the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Rahul Chahar in the upcoming mini auction. He stated:
“It could be that Miller, Livingstone, or even Dewald Brevis can take the fourth spot. With spinners, I foresee either Ravi Bishnoi or Rahul Chahar joining the team because spinners are their dire need. Ravichandran Ashwin retired, and Ravindra Jadeja was traded. Just Shreyas Gopal and Noor Ahmad are left in their squad as far as spin bowlers are concerned. So, Bishnoi can join, and they have a decent amount of money.”