Instead Of Sanju Samson, CSK Might Target KL Rahul: 2 Other Teams Who Could Join The Race

KL Rahul For DC [Source: AFP Media]

KL Rahul has technically been the best batter for India in the ongoing England tour. Opening the innings for the team, Rahul has shown great technique, temperament and patience in the four matches of the series that have been played so far.

Notably, the Indian batter was a marquee acquisition of Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2025. The recruitment of Rahul for ₹14 Cr was a premium value as he provided a unique three-in-one combo. A Indian wicket-keeper, a prime Indian batter and a captaincy candidate, all in one. Given the uniqueness of the player and the rising demand for such an entity in the market, certain teams might go all-out for the player ahead of the next season of the tournament.

Chennai Super Kings: The MS Dhoni Succession Gap (Probability: 8.5/10)

Strategic Imperatives

Post-MS Crisis: IPL 2025 was a disastrous season for the five-time champions, CSK. They finished at the bottom of the table, and serious questions were raised about the vacuum that will be created once the stalwart of the franchise, MS Dhoni, decides to hang up his gloves.

Ultimate Succession Blueprint: What MS Dhoni did so nicely for CSK for so long was running the team smartly from behind the stumps. The Indian legend has also delivered with the bat time and again, digging the team out of problems over the years.

If CSK can trade KL Rahul in, it gives them a player quite similar to MS. A cool skipper who can keep wickets and take charge of the situation with the bat when the team needs it.

Possible Trade Deals

Kolkata Knight Riders: The Slot Liberation Specialists (Probability: 7.5/10)

Optimisation Imperative

Overseas Slot Inefficiency: During the IPL 2025, we saw KKR use Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz as their wicketkeeper batter. However, both players failed to deliver with the expected efficiency. The introduction of KL Rahul to the side might solve a few of their problems.

Tactical Liberation: The induction of KL Rahul as a top-order batter would allow the KKR to free up an overseas slot. With this available spot, KKR can bring in a middle-order batter or pacer who can increase their championship chances in the next season.

Possible Trade Deals

Rajasthan Royals: The Conditional Masterpiece (Probability: 6.5/10)

There is a strong rumour going on about Sanju Samson being traded to CSK. If that trade goes through, the Royals will need a keeper batter who can also lead the team. In that scenario, KL Rahul could be a very important trade target for the inaugural champions.

Trade Options

The Royals can offer Shimron Hetmyer to the Delhi Capitals to bring in KL Rahul. While Hetmyer might add value to DC as a finisher, Rahul could fill the void that could potentially be created by the trade of Samson to CSK.

Transfer Verdict

Players who can keep wicket and also be a main batter for the team are very few in the IPL market, especially Indians. This gives KL Rahul an unprecedented scarcity premium.

The Capitals have two options: they can either capitalise on the player's peak valuation or strategise a long-term foundation around him. If DC are tempted to trade the Indian batter, CSK look like the frontrunners to orchestrate this transfer coup, especially due to the impending MS Dhoni succession imperative.

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