The IPL 2026 trade rumours have sparked a frenzy on social media. One player who has been the center of it all has been the Rajasthan Royals' captain, Sanju Samson.
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Samson has reportedly asked his franchise Rajasthan Royals, to release him ahead of the IPL 2026. There are speculations that the Chennai Super Kings are very keen on trading the superstar keeper-batter.
Amidst all the buzz and chaos, another cricketing expert has churned out one more explosive claim. Former CSK batter, S Badrinath, has stated Riyan Parag as the possible reason for Samson's exit from the Rajasthan Royals.
Badri believes Riyan Parag is the reason for Sanju Samson's exit
Samson did not have the best of the season with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025. The wicket-keeper-batter played through the season with quite a few injuries. Parag led the Rajasthan side in Samson's absence.
Parag was handed the RR's captaincy for the first three games, where Samson played as an impact player due to a finger injury. The young star again led the side in the later stages of the IPL, when Samson missed a few games with an abdominal injury.
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S Badrinath has now said that Parag's presence in the RR camp might well be the reason for Samson's exit from the side. The former batter has questioned why Samson would stay, with Parag being a contender for captaincy.
Talking on his YouTube channel 'Cric It with Badri', Badri said, "I feel Riyan Parag is the reason. If you consider him for captaincy, how do you expect someone like Samson to stay?"
Sanju Samson to move to CSK?
There have been speculations about a possible trade between RR and CSK involving Samson. CSK are looking to prepare for their post-Dhoni era, and Samson would perfectly fit in their plans.
If CSK plans to bring in the Rajasthan skipper, they might have to let go of some of their key players in return. Samson's salary playing for the RR was 18 Cr last year, and the yellow army will have to match that amount and create a purse of 18 Cr to bring in the wicket-keeper.
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However, with more than three months still to go for the auction, there is no clarity over any trade between franchises.