Suresh Raina Backs Sanju Samson to Bat at No. 3 for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League 2026
Former India batter Suresh Raina believes that Sanju Samson should bat at No. 3 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. According to Raina, the move would bring greater balance to the team’s batting lineup and strengthen the middle order.
Samson heads into IPL 2026 in impressive form after a standout performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The wicketkeeper-batter scored back-to-back half-centuries in the Super 8 match against the West Indies, the semi-final against England, and the final against New Zealand while opening the innings.
Despite Samson’s success as an opener, Raina feels CSK should stick with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre at the top of the order, allowing Samson to play a crucial role at No. 3 to stabilize the innings.
Raina Explains Ideal Batting Order
Speaking on JioHotstar, Raina suggested that Samson’s presence at No. 3 would help connect the top order with the middle order.
“He was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals for so many years. I think his role will be clear here. If Sanju plays at No. 3, it will be good according to me, because then Dewald Brevis can come at No. 4,” Raina said.
He further added that players like Shivam Dube could strengthen the middle order at No. 5, while the remaining slots would depend on team combinations and overseas selections.
Samson Could Also Take Over Wicketkeeping
Raina also hinted that Samson might take up wicketkeeping duties for CSK instead of veteran skipper MS Dhoni. He pointed out that Samson’s energy and growing popularity among fans could make him a key figure in the team’s setup.
“We saw the atmosphere he created during the World Cup. His role becomes even more important at No. 3. If Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad open, the middle order becomes much stronger,” Raina explained.
According to him, Dhoni may focus on finishing duties and appear mainly in the final overs, while Samson anchors the innings alongside players like Brevis and Dube.
Samson’s Move to CSK
Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Samson was traded from the Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings in a major deal involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
The Kerala-born cricketer brings significant experience to the franchise, having played 177 IPL matches and scoring 4,707 runs at an average of 30.95.
With Samson joining the CSK camp and the IPL 2026 season approaching, fans are eager to see how the team management shapes its batting order—and whether Raina’s suggestion of using Samson at No. 3 becomes a reality.
