The future of Sanju Samson at Rajasthan Royals is hanging in balance, with the franchise’s long-time captain reportedly asking to be released or traded ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
This unexpected development follows a difficult IPL 2025 season for both the team and Samson personally.
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The Royals have not yet responded officially, leaving fans guessing whether a major reshuffle is on the cards.
Sanju Samson asks to leave Rajasthan Royals
The 2025 season did not go well for the Royals. Despite a promising run in 2024, they ended at the bottom of the table this year, winning just a few matches and struggling to find rhythm.
According to sources, the dip in team performance was not the only problem. There have been growing tensions between Samson and coach Rahul Dravid, which reportedly reached a boiling point over the course of the season.
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Samson, who has led the Royals since 2021, was seen as visibly disengaged during multiple matches.
Has the emergence of young openers impacted his position?
Young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal took center stage at the top of the order. Sooryavanshi, in particular, filled in as an opener while Samson was absent and impressed with consistent performances.
Even after Samson returned to the playing XI, RR management kept the opening duo intact, pushing him to bat at number three.
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Rajasthan Royals’ current stance on the matter
As per reports from Cricbuzz, the Royals are yet to respond officially to Samson’s request.
His current contract with the franchise runs till the end of IPL 2027, so any move would require either a formal trade or release into the auction pool before IPL 2026.
Losing Samson would be a massive decision, given his contributions as a wicketkeeper, middle-order anchor and captain.
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Whether RR are willing to let go of one of their most experienced figures, or try to resolve the internal issues, remains to be seen.