Sanju Samson Officially Requests Release or Trade from Rajasthan Royals: Reports

Sanju Samson, who has been the face of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the past decade, might not be with them next season. According to a recent Cricbuzz report, Samson has officially asked the franchise to either trade or release him ahead of IPL 2026. There have been rumors about Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wanting to trade for him since the end of IPL 2025 and several reports suggest that things aren’t going well between Samson and RR. The latest report indicates that Samson has already informed the RR management about his decision to leave.

Sanju Samson’s family has openly mentioned that he no longer wants to stay with Rajasthan Royals and some current IPL and international players close to him have hinted that his relationship with the franchise isn’t what it used to be. However, there are rules in place. Once a player is signed, either through retention or auction, he is legally bound to the franchise for three years. The decision to trade or release him lies entirely with the franchise. Legally, Samson is committed to the Royals until the end of the 2027 season.

Rajasthan Royals now have a tough decision to make: should they keep a player who doesn’t want to stay with them? It’s always better to have a happy team, but letting go of someone like Samson, who’s been with the franchise since he was a teenager, isn’t easy. The Royals are looking into possible trades and have even reached out to other teams including those with good wicketkeeper-batters. Samson’s reasoning is understandable, he wants to open the innings, like he does for India, but with Jaiswal and Suryavanshi forming a solid opening pair last season, it’s become harder for him to find his spot. There might be other issues between them too.

In the end, the decision to keep or release Samson is entirely up to Rajasthan Royals, so it’s now in their hands to decide what happens with their captain’s future. The same report mentions that CSK has shown interest in trading for him, but bringing him in won’t be an easy task.

“Chennai Super Kings have openly expressed interest, but as a matter of policy, they are unwilling to release their players - ruling out a direct trade. Samson is a Rs 18-crore player and an all-cash one-way trade, naturally, is out of order for the RR management,” the report added. 

CSK's Attempt to Acquire Sanju Samson: Auction or Trade?

Sanju Samson and Rajasthan Royals have shared a long bond since 2015, following his release from Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite the franchise being suspended for two years (2016 and 2017), Samson has remained with them, becoming a central figure in their setup. His talent was evident from a young age, with even Sachin Tendulkar requesting to meet him after a remarkable performance in a Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals game, where he received praise for his batting ability.

Now, the future of this long-standing partnership is uncertain. While several franchises have expressed interest, none have yet proposed a trade that matches Samson's value. Chennai Super Kings, in particular are keen, but their policy of not releasing players makes a direct trade difficult. Samson, valued at Rs 18 crore, is a significant player and RR is unlikely to agree to a one-sided cash deal. While CSK has considered entering the auction for him, other franchises also struggle to meet his worth. The decision is now in the hands of Rajasthan Royals with no official comment from the franchise yet.

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