IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals Asks for Jadeja, Gaikwad or Dube in Exchange for Samson

Sanju Samson’s future with Rajasthan Royals is still unclear, with trade talks involving Chennai Super Kings now at a standstill.

According to Cricbuzz, RR owner Manoj Badale approached CSK with a proposal to swap Samson for one of their Indian stars, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, or Shivam Dube. CSK has reportedly refused to release any of them.

This makes a direct move to Chennai unlikely unless the franchise chooses to target Samson in the IPL 2026 auction. Meanwhile, other teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians have also shown interest.

KKR is in the market for a reliable Indian wicketkeeper-batter, while MI’s trade package could include names like Trent Boult or Rahul Chahar.

If RR decides to trade Samson during the current window, he may not even reach the auction pool. However, as he is contracted until 2027, the Royals still have the power to keep him. Given his reported unhappiness and the team’s ninth-place finish in IPL 2025, retaining him could be tricky.

Reports suggest the rift began when RR let go of Jos Buttler ahead of last season. Samson had publicly admitted it was one of the most difficult decisions for him, adding that he wished the IPL would scrap the rule requiring player releases every three years.

Still, he has kept his tone respectful toward RR, calling the setup “the world to me” in a podcast with R Ashwin.

The Royals are already building around young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag, which could hint at a shift in leadership.