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"If Sanju comes and starts to play..." Former Indian cricketer shares his views amid CSK trade talks

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif recently shared his thoughts on the swirling trade rumours involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and their all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, as the franchise reportedly considers swapping him for Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. However, nothing is confirmed yet, but Kaif sees this as a strategic move by CSK to plan for the post-MS Dhoni era.
"The two players started playing IPL in 2008. Ever since he went to CSK, he hasn’t left it. If the trade is successful, this is Dhoni’s last year. There is also a chance that Dhoni might leave in the middle," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
"If Sanju comes and starts to play, he gets comfortable with the management and Dhoni. In that case, Dhoni might ask Sanju to take over. We left Jadeja, our match-winner over the years, but we need a future captain," he said.
Kaif further hinted that MS Dhoni might step aside mid-season and ask Samson to take over.
"They previously made Jadeja the captain. He couldn’t manage things. He didn’t like the leadership. In the middle, he said that he can’t do it. Not all players can do captaincy in the IPL. In the long-term plan, Dhoni wants to sacrifice Jadeja to bring in a player who can take over leadership after the Dhoni era," he said.
As for Jadeja, he has been the cornerstone of CSK since joining the franchise back in 2012. CSK, meanwhile, endured a poor season in 2025, finishing bottom of the table.
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