Speculations about Rajasthan Royals getting a new captain in IPL 2026 are gaining momentum. According to media reports, Sanju Samson has told the Rajasthan team franchise that he wants to leave the team. It is also reported that Yashasvi Jaiswal has been offered captaincy to remain in the team. There is speculation that 3 teams including Chennai Super Kings (CSK) may show great interest in buying Samson.

According to reports, not only Sanju Samson but another wicketkeeper batsman Dhruv Jurel can also leave the Rajasthan Royals team. However, no reason has emerged as to why Jurel can leave the 2008 IPL champion team. Jaiswal was also about to leave the RR team, but he was stopped by the promise of captaincy.

Talking about Sanju Samson, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals can also show interest in including Samson in their team. It is not yet clear whether Samson will be traded, or he will be bid for in the auction.

Samson was playing for Rajasthan Royals team from 2013-15 and thereafter from 2018 till now. He has scored 4,704 runs in his IPL career of 177 matches. These also include 3 centuries and 26 half-centuries. Samson has also played for Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals (earlier Delhi Daredevils) in the IPL.

When will the auction happen?

The mini auction of IPL 2026 can take place between 13-15 December. BCCI has not yet confirmed any date regarding the auction. It is reported that the teams will have to submit their respective retention lists by 15th November. This time the auction will be on a smaller scale compared to the IPL 2025 mega auction.

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Everything is not good in the Rajasthan Royals team. Yes, before the mini auction of IPL 2026, Sanju Samson has formally expressed his desire to leave the Rajasthan team. According to Cricbuzz, Sanju Samson has informed the officials of RR franchise that he wants to leave the Rajasthan team. He requested that the team either make them trade or release them.

According to a report published in Cricbuzz, Samson’s family members have openly said that Sanju no longer wants to live in the Rajasthan Royals team. Some of Samson’s close IPL and international cricketers have also indicated that the RR team’s atmosphere is no longer as it used to be before.

Can Samson leave the team himself?

According to the rules, Sanju Samson himself cannot leave the Rajasthan team by taking a decision. After being purchased or retained in the auction, a player is contracted with the franchise for 3 years. Therefore, the decision to release Samson or trade with any other team can only take Rajasthan Royals franchisee. According to the current contract, Samson’s contract with RR franchise will end after the 2027 season.

Sanju Samson’s name associated with CSK

The speculation of trading Sanju Samson started gaining momentum since the end of IPL 2025. It was even claimed that Chennai Super Kings’s management could see Samson as Future Replacement of MS Dhoni. According to the report of Cricbuj itself, MS Dhoni and Rituraj Gaikwad are currently in Chennai, they have been seen practicing at CSK’s High Performance Center in the last one week. It was told that a meeting of CSK officials has been held. However, it is not clear whether the name of Sanju Samson was discussed in the meeting or not.

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