Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson's trade talks have heated up ahead of IPL 2026 after the keeper-batter allegedly requested to either be traded or released. According to Cricbuzz, the Royals have written to multiple franchises for acquiring Samson and they reportedly want either Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube or Ruturaj Gaikwad from Chennai Super Kings.
Samson, who rejoined the Royals in 2018 after spending a couple of seasons with the Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils), has reportedly not had good relations with the Royals. However, the decision to release or trade the right-handed batter rests only with the franchise.
The Kerala-born cricketer was promoted to the position of captaincy in the 2021 edition and notably carried the Royals to their first final in 2022 since 2008.
Sanju Samson's IPL 2025 season was marred with injuries
Meanwhile, Samson had a largely start-stop IPL season this year as he played only nine out of 14 matches. The elegant right-hander had featured in the first three games of the season as an impact player due to the finger injury sustained during the T20I series against England earlier this year.
Later in the season, the 30-year-old sustained a side strain while batting in a game against the Delhi Capitals. In the nine matches Samson played, he managed 285 runs at 35.63 alongside a strike rate of 140.39 with a solitary fifty.
Having won only four games out of 14, the Royals finished in the ninth spot in the points table. It was their victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that prevented them from finishing last.
