Rajasthan Royals’ captain and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has informed the team that he plans to leave before the 2026 IPL season begins.
This news could lead to big changes in the team and the IPL market. Samson told the Rajasthan Royals management about his decision after IPL 2025 ended. Right now, the team has not made any final decision and talks are going on in the team’s management.
Samson has spent many years playing for Rajasthan Royals. He first joined them in 2013, left for Delhi for a short time, then returned in 2018. Sanju Samson took over as captain in 2021, and under his leadership, the team reached the IPL final in 2022. He has scored the most runs for the Rajasthan Royals and is their longest-serving captain.
But recently, the relationship between Samson and the Royals has become tense, especially after the team changed its strategy last season. The team gave more chances to young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi to open the batting, which is Samson’s favorite spot.
Another problem is that Samson could play only nine matches in IPL 2025 because of a side injury, and Riyan Parag had to captain the team while he was out. Samson still has a contract with Rajasthan Royals until 2027, so the team has the final say on whether he can leave or not.
Other IPL teams are interested in getting Sanju Samson. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) want an experienced Indian wicketkeeper, since MS Dhoni may retire soon. There were friendly talks between Samson and CSK bosses, but nothing official has happened because it depends on whether Rajasthan Royals will let him go.
Aakash Chopra, a former India opener, believes Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) need Samson more than any other team. KKR does not have a main Indian wicketkeeper-batter, and getting Samson would make their batting much stronger.
KKR might be able to sign Samson if they let go of Venkatesh Iyer to free up money. Samson played his first IPL match for KKR many years ago, so returning to that team could make sense for him.
Rajasthan Royals have a tough choice. It can be risky to keep a player who does not want to stay. But it is also hard to let go of a player like Samson, who is very important to the team. Rajasthan Royals have tried to talk about trading Samson, but no good deal has come yet. It is not clear if Samson will be traded, released into the auction, or convinced to stay.
Samson is now training for Indian selection and may play in upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup. Fans and experts are watching closely to see what happens in the IPL 2026 transfer window and where Sanju Samson will play next season. The final decision will be made by team experts including head coach Rahul Dravid and the owners.