Sanju Samson has told Rajasthan Royals he wants out before the IPL 2026 auction, a request the club is yet to sign off. The conversation, according to people familiar with it, took place soon after Royals wrapped up their disappointing 2025 campaign.
The franchise held its season-review meetings in June but still hasn’t given the captain a firm answer. Co-owner Manoj Badale responded with a brief, “no comment”, while head coach Rahul Dravid is expected to be involved in whatever call is ultimately taken.
Under league rules, the Royals can negotiate a trade – either player-for-player or an all-cash deal – or simply let Samson re-enter the auction. Final say rests with the franchise, not the player.
Samson, 30, has a long if slightly stop-start history with the Royals. He debuted for them in 2013, spent two seasons at Delhi, then returned in 2018. Captaincy arrived in 2021, and a year later he steered the side to their first final since the inaugural 2008 title. That high point has faded quickly: Rajasthan released Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal before the last mega-auction, and 2025 ended with just four wins from 14 games and a ninth-place finish.
Samson himself managed only nine matches because of a side strain, with Riyan Parag deputising as skipper. The wicketkeeper-batter was nevertheless one of six retentions last year, valued at INR 18 crore (about £1.7 million).
“Player movements are part of the cycle,” one senior IPL analyst told me. “But letting your captain go two years into a long-term plan sends mixed signals. If he does enter the auction, half the league will bid.”
For now Samson is in Bengaluru at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, part of a training block for players the national selectors want in peak condition. He’s expected to feature at the Asia Cup in the UAE from 9 September and, ahead of that, will turn out for Kochi Blue Tigers in the Kerala Cricket League after fetching a record INR 26.8 lakh.
The Royals have roughly two months to decide – the retention deadline falls in November. Release would free up a sizable chunk of their purse, though finding a comparable Indian top-order option who can also lead won’t be simple.
A former India team-mate summed up the mood: “Sanju loves Jaipur, but he also wants clarity on direction. If both sides can’t align, a fresh start might be best for everyone.”
In other words, the ball is back in the Royals’ court.
