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It has been reported that Samson has formally requested the Rajasthan Royals to trade or release him ahead of the IPL 2026 auctions.
Sanju Samson is interested in joining CSK after leaving RR. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Rajasthan Royals captain and star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson wants to leave the franchise. It was reported by Cricbuzz, ESPN Cricinfo and Indian Express on Thursday (August 7) that the 30-year-old cricketer from Kerala, who is RR’s most capped player in IPL history and also their highest run getter and most successful captain, has formally requested the Jaipur-based team to either trade or release him ahead of the IPL 2026 auctions.
A day after it was reported that Samson wants to part ways with Rajasthan Royals, Indian Express has reported that the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings are interested in securing the services of Samson. In fact, after the conclusion of IPL 2025, Samson even met with CSK management and their head coach Stephen Fleming in the United States.
“It is understood that Chennai are open to the idea of bringing the 30-year-old to Chepauk through a trade deal via cash. But it has hit a roadblock, with Rajasthan preferring an exchange of two players from Chennai,” Indian Express reported.
Apart from Chennai Super Kings, three-time IPL champion Kolkata Knight Riders are also interested in signing Samson, but “Samson seems to be keen on making a move to Chennai for multiple reasons.”
Samson was associated with KKR in the past. He was part of the Gautam Gambhir-led side that won the IPL title in 2012, but he didn’t get a chance to play any match for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side.
“According to those in the know, the chances of Samson entering the auctions are highly likely at this stage if both Rajasthan and Chennai don’t reach an agreement,” the report added.
Samson’s record in IPL
Since making his IPL debut in 2013, Samson has played a total of 177 matches for two teams – Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) – and has 4704 runs to his name. The 30-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has scored three centuries and 26 fifties in the world’s richest franchise cricket league, and under his leadership, Rajasthan Royals also qualified for the IPL final in 2022.
Samson has led RR in a total of 67 IPL matches so far and won 33. He was retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction by the Jaipur-based franchise.
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