Overview:

Samson played nine matches due to an injury. Reports of a problem between Samson and head coach Rahul Dravid hogged the limelight.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is all set to leave the franchise after giving a trade request ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Samson, who has been leading the franchise since 2021, wants to play for a different team next year.

The development came following RR’s dismal campaign in the 18th season, where the franchise finished ninth in the points table. Samson played nine matches due to an injury. Reports of a problem between Samson and head coach Rahul Dravid hogged the limelight.

In Rajasthan’s Super Over defeat to Delhi Capitals, Samson seemed unhappy and was absent from the team huddle. He was looking uninterested while talking to Dravid.

Dravid had to address the matter in a press conference. “I have a good relationship with him, and I don’t know where these reports are coming from. He was a part of every discussion. These are baseless stories,” Dravid had said.

However, according to Cricbuzz, Samson now wants to leave the franchise due to the rise of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Samson was pushed to the No. 3 spot due to Suryavanshi’s performance as an opener in the last season, a move which the senior batter was not in favour of.

While the Royals haven’t received any official offer from the other IPL teams, his trade request is bound to attract interest.