Sanju Samson wants to leave Rajasthan Royals: Where should he go?

Ahead of IPL 2026 auctions, Rajasthan Royals (RR) face turmoil as captain Sanju Samson seeks to leave the franchise, despite a contract until 2027.

Image | BCCI

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auctions, Rajasthan Royals (RR) face a complex plight as their captain, Sanju Samson, has expressed a strong desire to part ways with the franchise. Despite being retained last year on a three-year contract Samson’s request to leave has put the franchise in a tough spot, with the final decision resting solely with RR under IPL rules.

The franchise can either release him into the auction pool or consider a trade, but continuing their partnership would require the player and management to negotiate notable discrepancies.

Samson, who has been a key figure of RR since 2013 and took over as captain in 2021, is reportedly dissatisfied due to perceived limitations on his captaincy freedom and growing friction with the team management, including head coach Rahul Dravid.

Samson has a contract till the 2027 season, meaning Rajasthan Royals has his playing rights for two more years unless they agree to a trade or release. If the franchise refuses, Samson must stay according to IPL regulations that favor franchises in such disputes.

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Where should Samson go?

Among potential suitors, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have shown serious interest in acquiring Samson. The 30-year-old batter even met with CSK management and coach Stephen Fleming during the Major League Cricket season in the US after IPL 2025.

CSK is open to a trade deal involving cash, but prefers when the Royals offer player exchanges instead of solely monetary compensation. However, negotiations have hit a roadblock as RR demands a player-for-player swap, problematizing the deal. CSK’s policy traditionally avoids cash-only trades, but they have made exceptions in the past.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are another franchise reportedly interested in Samson, especially since they lack a frontline Indian wicket-keeper. However, Samson appears inclined towards joining CSK for multiple reasons, including a longstanding interest from their side dating back to last season when talks did not progress.

For Rajasthan, releasing Samson could strategically open slots, as they have emerging players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, making their squad top-heavy with batsmen and keepers. This could allow them to reinforce the middle and lower orders.

What if there is no trade for Samson?

If the trade deal fails, Samson will likely enter the auction pool, setting the stage for a competitive bidding war. However, with his high price tag (reported around Rs 18 crore), only a few franchises have the financial capacity to bid aggressively. For CSK, this would mean potentially releasing other players to free up budget space to compete for Samson at auction, highlighting the financial challenges involved.

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