Sanju Samson, the standout batsman and wicketkeeper for the Rajasthan Royals, wants to leave the team. The 30-year-old Keralan cricketer, who is RR’s most-capped player in IPL history, their highest run scorer, and their most successful captain, formally asked the Jaipur-based team to either trade or release him before the IPL 2026 auctions, according to reports from Cricbuzz, ESPN Cricinfo, and Indian Express on Thursday, August 7.
The Indian Express claimed that the five-time IPL winner Chennai Super Kings are interested in hiring Samson, a day after it was reported that he wanted to leave the Rajasthan Royals. Samson even had a meeting with CSK administration and head coach Stephen Fleming in the United States following the end of the 2025 Indian Premier League.
“It is understood that Chennai is 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,” the 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.”
Sanju Samson used to be connected to KKR. He was a member of the Gautam Gambhir-led team that won the 2012 Indian Premier League, but he was not allowed to play for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team.
“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 IPL record
Samson has played 177 games for the Delhi Capitals (previously the Delhi Daredevils) and Rajasthan Royals since making his IPL debut in 2013. He has amassed 4704 runs throughout that time. Under his leadership, the Rajasthan Royals made it to the 2022 IPL final. The 30-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has scored three hundreds and twenty-six fifties in the world’s most lucrative franchise cricket competition.
