IPL 2026: Sanju Samson Wants to Leave Rajasthan Royals At Any Cost

Sanju Samson has told Rajasthan Royals he doesn’t want to play for them anymore. The long-time captain has officially asked to be either traded to another team or released into the IPL auction.

This has quickly become one of the biggest stories in IPL trade talk. But the matter is not as simple as a player wanting to leave. There are rules, contracts, emotions, and years of history involved.

A Rift Between Samson and Royals

Several people close to Samson, including family members and fellow players, have said that his relationship with the franchise isn’t what it used to be. Things seem to have gone downhill, and the player now wants a fresh start elsewhere.

One possible reason? Samson reportedly wanted to open the batting, just like he does for India in T20s, but that spot was already taken by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The Royals had found a solid opening pair during last season and were not keen on breaking it.

But there may be more to this than just batting positions.

What the Rules Say

Even if Samson wants out, the final decision is not in his hands. IPL rules are clear – once a player is signed, either through retention or auction, he is bound to that team for three years. This current cycle runs till the end of IPL 2027.

Only the franchise has the right to release or trade a player. So technically, the Royals can keep Samson, whether he wants to stay or not.

This puts the team in a tough spot. Should they hold on to a player who doesn’t want to be there? Or should they try to find a trade that works for both sides?

Royals Exploring Options

Sources say the Royals have reached out to nearly all IPL franchises to see if anyone is interested in a trade. Some teams have shown interest, including those who already have wicketkeeper-batters.

Chennai Super Kings are believed to be among the most interested. But CSK are known for not releasing their players, so a direct trade looks unlikely. A one-way, all-cash trade is also out of the question, as Samson is a marquee player with a price tag of ₹18 crore.

CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad has been at the franchise’s high-performance centre in Chennai recently, and there have been meetings involving top players and management.

It’s not clear if Samson’s situation came up in those talks. CSK officials say their only option may be to wait for the auction, if Samson is released.