Is Sanju Samson Going To CSK? Ashwin Reveals What’s Happening Behind The Scenes

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are right in the middle of heated trade rumours involving Sanju Samson (incoming) and R Ashwin (outgoing), however, as per Ashwin, the ball is in the respective franchises' hands rather than the players. 

Samson recently featured in an interview with Ashwin on his YouTube channel, after which conversations around Samson’s trade started happening with even more frequency everywhere. However, Ashwin clarified on his show Ash Ki Baat that the case is much more complex and the decision can only be made by the franchise. 

“I played for three years for RR. After my first year there, I got a mail from the RR CEO telling me that my performance was so and so, and these are the expectations from me,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, explaining how conversations on retention and release happen in Indian Premier League franchises. 

“There, they tell me that they are renewing my contract for next year. So once every season is done, it is the responsibility of the franchise to convey to the player whether they have decided to retain him or release him. 

“Every player can ask for clarity from the team management and express if they are interested in continuing or not. So, there’s nothing in my hand actually. If you even see Sanju’s case, the news (of his trade) that’s coming out, it’s coming from the franchise’s side, not Sanju’s side. 

"I never asked a direct question to Sanju about his trade since it was personal. However, even if I had asked him, he wouldn’t have had an answer because there are too many layers to it,” Ashwin explained. 

Building on this explanation, Ashwin said that only RR can answer if Samson’s trade is happening or not. 

“In Sanju’s case, if he’s available for trade or not, that answer only Manoj Badale and RR can give,” Ashwin said. 

“It will be asked from Sanju if he wishes to go or not. That they can ask. The player has that choice. However, no one stops a player who doesn’t want to stay.”

Ashwin also revealed what’s happening between him and CSK regarding his future, and said that he has just asked for clarity from the franchise regarding his place in the squad. 

“In my case as well, this was the first time that I didn’t play all the games in a season for a franchise despite being fit,” the former Indian spinner said. 

“Hence, I asked for clarity from them regarding my future…I don’t have any classified information about Sanju coming here and me going there.”