JAIPUR: Rajasthan Royals are in a quandary over Sanju Samson’s plea to let him go or broker a trade, TOI has learnt. Having locked in Samson for Rs 18 cr last year, the franchise can hold onto him for two more seasons if the Royals management stands firm. Those in the know of developments, however, say that would be an unlikely outcome.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!There were rumours of unease between the Royals management and Samson during this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), with head coach Rahul Dravid having to clarify that he and the Royals captain “were on the same page” and that he was “an integral part of the team”. Royals had faced significant backlash from fans following the rumours of discord between head coach and captain.
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Murmurs of discord persisted, however, with Samson reportedly urging Royals — the franchise he’s been tied to for 12 years — to either release him or trade him ahead of the IPL-2026 auction.Samson’s saga with Royals kicked off in 2013 as an 18-year-old prodigy, when he clinched the Emerging Player award with 206 runs and six stumpings. He’s since become their most capped player (149 matches) and top run-scorer (4027 runs), notching three centuries.After a brief detour with Delhi Daredevils (2016–17) when Royals were suspended, Samson returned to steer the side from 2021, guiding them to the IPL 2022 final and a 2024 playoff berth, where he amassed 531 runs.Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), hunting for an Indian wicketkeeper, are also circling, but Samson’s personal preference, say sources, could be Chennai Super Kings (CSK).With openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi in their ranks, Royals could cut Samson loose to bolster their middle order. Importantly, should RR part ways with Samson, it will be intriguing to see who steps up to lead the team.Last season, Riyan Parag captained the side for four games but his inexperience shone through. With a pool of youngsters like Jaiswal and Jurel to choose from, the franchise will need to weigh its options carefully as it navigates this transition.The Jaipur-based franchise has almost two months to take a call, since the IPL trade window and the deadline to release players is usually open until November.
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