Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might have signed one of the best openers available in the IPL in Sanju Samson, but they are not guaranteed to put him at the top of the order in the IPL 2026 season. Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that Samson should be placed at number three, with youngster Ayush Mhatre, who broke through the team last year, to open alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.

CSK traded Samson from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at a hefty price tag of Rs. 18 crore. The right-hander has spent the majority of his IPL career playing at number three, scoring 3096 runs (including three centuries) at a strike rate of 143.33, his best for any position with a minimum of two games. However, for India, Samson has been an out-and-out opener, scoring three tons in T20Is while being one of th

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