IPL 2026 Auction: Sanju Samson to Retun to Delhi Capitals! Check Which Player Rajasthan Royals Demand in Return

Rajasthan Royals are reportedly on the verge of a major shake-up ahead of IPL 2026. As per a Times of India report, the franchise is in advanced talks to trade captain Sanju Samson to Delhi Capitals in exchange for South Africa’s power-hitter Tristan Stubbs.

The rumours surrounding Samson’s future have been circulating for months, with many insiders suggesting that the Kerala star is ready for a new challenge. If the deal is finalised, Samson will return to Delhi, where he played in 2016 and 2017 before becoming the face of the Royals.

According to the report, Rajasthan were initially interested in a swap involving KL Rahul. However, Delhi were not open to letting go of Rahul, who played a big role for them last season and holds strong commercial value. Instead, DC proposed Stubbs, who impressed with his explosive batting in IPL 2025.

Rajasthan, however, are said to have asked for an additional uncapped player alongside Stubbs, something the Capitals reportedly refused. Despite that, the talks are said to be positive, and fans could soon see Samson donning Delhi colours once again.

The report also mentioned that Rajasthan made an approach to Chennai Super Kings for a potential Ravindra Jadeja trade, but CSK showed no interest in the proposal.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders are exploring options to bring KL Rahul into their squad. However, they face a challenge as the franchise lacks a player who might interest Delhi in a trade.

KKR’s core stars Rinku Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy are considered untouchable, while veterans like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell may not fit Delhi’s plans due to their age.