Sanju Samson Leaves Rajasthan Royals: On Thursday, August 7, Cricbuzz dropped a major update that has sent shockwaves through the IPL world. According to their report, star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has officially asked for his release from the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The report claims that there are “serious differences” between Samson and the RR management, which has led him to make this bold move and ask to be released or traded.
Sanju Samson Formally Requests Trade or Release
For quite some time now, rumors of a possible trade involving Sanju Samson have been doing the rounds. With the IPL 2026 auction on the horizon, this story has become one of the most talked-about topics in Indian cricket.
While earlier reports on the situation were mixed, the latest update suggests that Samson has now formally asked Rajasthan Royals to either trade him to another team or let him go.
Adding to the buzz, some of Samson’s family members have openly said he doesn’t want to continue with the Royals. Even some of his teammates have hinted that the relationship between Samson and the franchise is not what it used to be.
“Serious differences have cropped up between Sanju Samson and the Royals management – so much so that the designated captain has formally requested to be traded or released into the auction.”
“Members of Samson’s family openly say that he no longer wishes to continue with the Royals. Some current IPL and international players close to him also indicate that his relationship with the franchise has not exactly been the way it used to be,” the report added.
Rajasthan Royals Struggling to Find Trade Offers
Sanju Samson is currently under an INR 18 crore deal with the Royals, signed before the IPL 2025 mega auction. That contract keeps him tied to the team until 2027. IPL contracts don’t allow players to walk away on their own. However, a franchise can release a player, especially if it makes sense for both sides.
The Royals have reportedly been looking at trade options but haven’t found the right fit yet. One major hurdle is that while teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have shown interest in signing Samson, they don’t want to let go of their own players in return.
“A few franchises have shown interest, but none have offered a trade acceptable to the RR management. 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.”
Both MS Dhoni and current CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad are currently in Chennai, and there have been internal meetings among CSK officials. However, it’s unclear if those discussions had anything to do with bringing Samson on board.
As per Cricbuzz, one major reason for the fallout seems to be that Samson didn’t get the kind of freedom he expected as RR captain.
He prefers to open the innings, especially in T20s, as he does for Team India. But with young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi stepping up alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, Samson was pushed down the batting order. That change reportedly didn’t sit well with him.
Along with this, several other issues have apparently contributed to the growing tension between Samson and the Rajasthan Royals.
It’s worth noting that Samson has been a key figure for the franchise for a long time. He’s the most capped player in RR history, having played 155 matches. Over those games, he’s scored 3002 runs at an average of 31.96 and a strike rate of 140.53.
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