Sanju Samson asks Rajasthan Royals to trade or release him: Report

Sanju Samson asks Rajasthan Royals to release him ahead of IPL 2026. (Photo: IPL/BCCI)

Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has reportedly asked the Rajasthan Royals to release him ahead of the next IPL season. As per a Cricbuzz report published on Thursday (August 7), tensions have escalated between Samson and the franchise’s management, prompting the Kerala cricketer to seek either a trade or a release into the upcoming player auction.

“It is a fact that serious differences have cropped up between Sanju Samson and the Royals management – so much so that the designated captain has formally requested to be traded or released into the auction," the report stated.

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Samson, who has been a long-serving member of the Rajasthan Royals, has featured in 149 matches for the Jaipur-based side in the Indian Premier League.

He was retained by the franchise for Rs 18 crore before the IPL 2025 mega auction and played nine games this year. Samson was appointed captain of the Royals in the 2021 season and has led the side in 67 matches winning 33 out of them.

Interestingly, Times of India on Wednesday reported that RR are not willing to trade their skipper or any other player.

“RR have decided not to trade Samson or any of their players for now. Samson is very much a part of the Royals set-up and the undisputed captain of the team," a source was quoted as saying by The Times Of India.

Sanju Samson began his IPL journey with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 but didn’t get a chance to play and was eventually released. He was later picked up by Rajasthan Royals, where he made his debut against Punjab Kings (then known as Kings XI Punjab). Samson remained with RR for four seasons before moving to Delhi Capitals during the two-year suspension of the Royals. In the 2018 IPL auction, Rajasthan Royals brought him back for Rs 18 crore. Three years later, he was appointed captain of the team and marked the occasion with a stunning century in his very first match as skipper.