Rajasthan Royals are open to trading their captain and most capped player, Sanju Samson. After the 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter made a formal request to the Jaipur-based franchise to either release or trade him ahead of the IPL 2026 auctions, the inaugural edition winners have written to multiple franchises to enquire about their interest in signing Samson.
It has been reported that RR owner Manoj Badale has even “mentioned the names of specific players from different franchises that the Royals are keen on, in exchange for Samson.”
“There is even talk that the Royals may have already reached – or be close to reaching – an agreement with one of them,” the report added.
According to the available information, in exchange for Samson, RR have asked for Ravindra Jadeja or Ruturaj Gaikwad from Chennai Super Kings, but the Chennai-based franchise is not ready to entertain. All-rounder Shivam Dube, who has played for RR in the past, is also among the players the Royals are interested in signing from CSK as part of the Samson deal, but CSK are unwilling to part with the India all-rounder either.
“In fact, CSK officials and management are said to be reluctant to release any of their players,” the report further read.
Samson has played a total of 149 matches in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals and, with the help of two centuries and 23 fifties, amassed a total of 4027 runs. He is the leading run getter for the Jaipur-based franchise and is the only player to score more than 4000 runs for them in the world’s richest franchise league. Samson, who was retained for Rs 18 crore by RR ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions, has led RR in a total of 67 matches and won 33 of them, which is the most by any Rajasthan Royals captain.
On the other hand, Gaikwad has scored 2502 runs in 71 IPL matches for the Chennai-based franchise. He is the fourth leading run scorer for the Chennai-based franchise in the world’s richest franchise cricket league and was appointed as the team’s captain ahead of the start of IPL 2024.
