Sanju Samson Asks Rajasthan Royals for Release Before IPL 2026
orangeevaSanju Samson’s journey with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) dates back to 2013, when he first joined the franchise after being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Samson has now expressed his desire to part ways with RR ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. The wicketkeeper-batter is said to have informed the team management about his decision shortly after the conclusion of IPL 2025.
Over the years, Sanju Samson association with RR has seen a brief break — he played for the Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017 — before making a return to the Royals in 2018.
Ahead of last year’s mega auction, RR retained six players, with Samson leading the list at a hefty INR 18 crore. The other retained players were Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Rajasthan Royals Yet to Decide Sanju Samson’s Future
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have not yet confirmed whether they will retain or release skipper Sanju Samson ahead of the next IPL season. A side strain restricted Samson to just nine of RR’s 14 matches in IPL 2025, with Riyan Parag stepping in as captain during his absence. The Royals endured a poor campaign, finishing ninth with only four wins.
Franchise principal owner Manoj Badale has so far remained tight-lipped on Samson’s future, even during RR’s 2025 season review meetings held in June. The final call is expected to be made after consultations with head coach Rahul Dravid.
If RR opt to part ways, Sanju Samson could either be traded to another franchise or placed in the auction pool. Under IPL regulations, the franchise holds the final say in such matters, with trade options including player swaps or all-cash deals. Despite the uncertainty, Sanju Samson remains under contract with RR until the end of the current cycle in 2027.
Training and Upcoming Commitments
According to ESPNcricinfo, Sanju Samson is currently training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as part of a program for players shortlisted by the national selectors. He is widely expected to make India’s squad for the Asia Cup, starting September 9 in the UAE.
Before that, the wicketkeeper-batter will feature in the Kerala Cricket League, where he was recently picked up by the Kochi Blue Tigers for ₹26.8 lakh — the highest bid in the tournament’s history.
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