Sanju Samson to exit Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 auctions

Sanju Samson has formally indicated he wishes to leave Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 auctions, months after the franchise’s decision to release Jos Buttler ahead of the 2025 mega auction intensified questions about the captain’s future. Samson, who has led RR since 2021 and has been with the franchise since 2013, remains their most prominent player and one of the IPL’s most productive batsmen, but the combination of the Buttler departure and a perceived shift in the team’s roster policies appears to have pushed him to seek a fresh start.

The sequence began with Rajasthan Royals opting not to retain Buttler, a move that surprised many given his status as one of the league’s marquee performers. The franchise used all six of its retention slots on other players, leaving no Right to Match card for Buttler at the auction, where he subsequently joined another side for a substantial fee. Samson’s own status with RR has long been closely tied to Buttler’s presence, and the decision to release the English veteran reportedly fed into broader tensions within the leadership group and playing roster.

Several observers have suggested Samson’s unhappiness is not solely about one...