Rajasthan Royals Dismisses Rift with Sanju Samson Amid CSK’s IPL Trade Interest
There have been rumors suggesting that Sanju Samson may have had a falling out with Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Rahul Dravid. However, a franchise insider quickly dismissed these claims calling them “absolute nonsense.” While there’s no conflict between Sanju and the team, the situation around his future seems to have shifted. A few months ago, the outlook was that Sanju would stay on as captain for the foreseeable future. But now, when asked about a potential transfer request, the response was, “Not that I’ve heard of.”
It's becoming clear that Sanju Samson’s desire to leave Rajasthan Royals is no longer a secret. Whether the tension is between him and the head coach or the franchise management remains unclear. Unlike in football, where players have more control over transfers, the IPL gives full power to the franchises when it comes to contracted players. Rajasthan Royals had spent Rs 18 crore to retain Sanju ahead of the mega auction, which means they can keep him for two more seasons regardless of his wishes. They could either trade him to another team or put him back into the auction.
As the off-season approaches, it’s understood that Chennai Super Kings are keeping a close eye on the situation. There have been informal talks between CSK officials and Sanju after the 2025 IPL season. However, when asked if there had been any formal approach, a senior CSK official told RevSportz, “Not yet.” CSK is known for being a professional and ethical franchise. They respect that Sanju is still a Rajasthan Royals player and will only enter formal negotiations if the Royals decide to make him available for trade, just like they did when they brought in Robin Uthappa ahead of the 2021 IPL.
MS Dhoni’s Future and CSK’s Search for a Wicketkeeper
With uncertainty around MS Dhoni’s future as a player, CSK is looking for an experienced Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Sanju, who has been Royals captain since 2021 only played nine matches in the 2025 IPL due to a side strain. Riyan Parag took over as the stand-in captain in his absence. If the Royals decide to move on from Sanju, sources suggest that young Yashasvi Jaiswal could be a strong candidate to take over as captain. Royals have also invested in players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and have Dhruv Jurel, making the future of the ‘keeper-batter position secure.
It remains to be seen whether Rajasthan Royals will grant Sanju's request, but franchises usually prefer not to keep players who aren’t fully committed. While Samson is under contract with RR until 2027, giving them the option to hold onto him until the next mega auction, it’s unlikely they will keep him if he’s firm about wanting to leave.