Sanju Samson seeks trade or release from RR ahead of IPL 2026 auction

In a developing saga that could reshape several IPL rosters, Sanju Samson has formally asked Rajasthan Royals to trade or release him ahead of the IPL 2026 player auction. The Royals have begun evaluating possible options, with multiple franchises reportedly in play, including Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. The move follows broader franchise disquiet over past player-retention decisions and a disappointing 2025 campaign for RR, which finished ninth after a season in which Samson himself scored modestly by his standards.

Samson, who has captained the Royals for most of the decade, has cited a strained relationship with the franchise’s decision-makers as a key driver of his request. The most contentious flashpoint appears to be the club’s decision to release Jos Buttler before the IPL 2025 mega-auction, a move Samson publicly acknowledged as painful. “If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players every three years,” he told a media outlet, underscoring a sense of frustration with the franchise’s strategic direction. Buttler’s subsequent move to Gujarat Titans, where he enjoyed a productive season, added to the sense that RR’s...