Which Teams have Sanju Samson represented in IPL before CSK? Full Guide of Samson's Journey

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The IPL 2026 auction and trading window delivered one of the most seismic shifts in the tournament's history: Sanju Samson donning the yellow jersey for the Chennai Super Kings.

The star India player was part of a blockbuster trade deal that saw him switching Rajasthan for the Super Kings, a move that facilitated Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the other way.

Sanju Samson Teams in IPL

Throughout his illustrious IPL journey, Sanju Samson has been part of three franchises before joining the Chennai Super Kings: the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). While he is most famous for his on-field exploits in Rajasthan and Delhi, his IPL story actually began in Kolkata.

Kolkata Knight Riders (2012)

Long before he became a household name, a young Sanju Samson was actually part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad in the 2012 Indian Premier League. Signed as a promising young wicketkeeper-batter, he was one of four young additions brought into the KKR setup that season.

His primary role in 2012 was to serve as a backup wicketkeeper-batter. However, due to the presence of established veterans and a packed playing XI that eventually went on to win the title that year, Samson did not play a single match for KKR during the tournament. He would have to wait another year to make his official mark on the league.

Rajasthan Royals (2013-2015 & 2018-2025)

Leaving KKR, Samson made his official IPL debut in 2013 with the Rajasthan Royals. Making his debut as an 18-year-old prodigy under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid, he instantly made his mark by winning the Emerging Player of the Year award in his debut season.

Samson was the heartbeat of the Royals. He was elevated to the captaincy ahead of the 2021 season, eventually leading the franchise to the IPL final in 2022. During his monumental stint with RR, Samson became the first and only player to cross the 4,000-run mark for the franchise.

Delhi Daredevils (2016-2017)

When the Rajasthan Royals were handed a two-year suspension from the IPL, Samson was drafted by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). During his two-season stay in the nation's capital, he shared the dressing room with young emerging stars like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.

It was during this stint that Samson scored his maiden IPL century, where he scored 102 off 63 balls against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. His short stay was brilliant for Delhi before the mega auction in 2018 saw him return "home" to Rajasthan.