Sanju Samson requests Rajasthan Royals to release him ahead of IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals’ star player and captain since 2021, Sanju Samson, has formally requested a release or trade ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The cricketer who was retained for INR 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has been a main member for RR, both as a player and leader.

With over 4,000 runs and 149 appearances, he is the franchise’s most capped and highest run-scoring player. However, after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign where the Royals finished ninth and Samson missed several matches due to a hand injury, these factors have reportedly taken a toll.

According to a Cricbuzz report, serious differences have occurred between Samson and the RR management. His family and close associates confirmed that the Kerala batter no longer wishes to continue with the franchise. The rift reportedly increased due to his demotion to the number three position last season, a decision triggered by the performance of young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Samson, who has aspirations to be a regular member in India’s T20I squad as an opener, is believed to be unhappy with the change in batting order. 

Royals reach out to multiple franchises for trade options

Additionally, speculation of a difference with head coach Rahul Dravid also grabbed headlines, especially after Samson appeared removed during a match against Delhi Capitals in April 2025. Though Dravid publicly dismissed the rumours, stating they were baseless, and mentioned having a very good rapport with Samson.

Meanwhile, the Royals have reportedly reached out to multiple franchises to explore trade options. While Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have shown interest in acquiring Samson, they face financial constraints. Any change would require CSK to release big players or offload multiple benchwarmers to create space for the INR 18 crore acquisition. However, Samson is under contract with RR until the end of IPL 2027, meaning any trade or release must be approved by the franchise.

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