Sanju Samson’s future with Rajasthan Royals uncertain as CSK rejects player trade offer ahead of IPL 2026

Sanju Samson’s IPL 2026 future hangs in balance as Rajasthan Royals explore trade options, but CSK turns down their request for marquee players in a potential high-profile swap.

Sanju Samson (Image Credit: RR on X)

Rajasthan Royals are in the middle of a big player trade discussion before IPL 2026, and the focus is on their captain, Sanju Samson. According to reports, Samson has officially asked the franchise to either release him or trade him to another team. Such a move has gained all the attention of the fans in such a short time.

The franchise has already spoken to a few franchises to check if they are interested in signing Samson. Among the teams they approached was the Chennai Super Kings. As per Cricbuzz, RR have asked for key CSK players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, or Shivam Dube in exchange for Samson. However, CSK rejected the offer straight away, making it clear they are not willing to let go of these players.

Even though CSK has turned down the proposal, Samson is still on the radar of at least one other IPL team. His skills as a wicketkeeper-batsman and his leadership make him a valuable player, so interest in him is expected to remain strong.

Samson has not stayed silent about the rumours. He recently opened up about his decision and mentioned that he communicated with the franchise regarding his decision. Moreover, before the last season of the IPL, he had talked about how he was unhappy with RR's decision to let go of Jos Buttler before the auction.

"Letting him go has been one of the most challenging decisions for me. During the England series, I told him over dinner that I was still not over it. If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players every three years," said Samson on Star Sports before the last IPL season.

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Even though Samson has asked to leave, the final call will be made by the Royals because of his contract. If a deal doesn’t happen, he could still be part of the team for the next season. But with the IPL trade window and mini-auction coming up, there’s a chance that more offers or negotiations could take place.

For now, the situation is tense but still open. Whether Samson stays or moves will depend on how much other teams are ready to offer and whether RR feel they are getting a fair trade in return. Fans can expect more developments in the coming weeks.

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