IPL 2025: RR captain Sanju Samson breaks his silence on letting go of Jos Buttler before auction

Sanju Samson will lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025.

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening game at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

All franchises underwent a major overhaul before the season during the IPL 2025 mega auction. While they added exciting new talent to their squads, they also had to let go of some familiar faces.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced a similar dilemma with several quality players at their disposal. The franchise decided to retain six players – Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal while letting go of veteran England batsman Jos Buttler.

Captain of the side Sanju Samson has now opened up about how difficult it was for him to make the decision.

RR captain Sanju Samson breaks his silence on letting go of Jos Buttler before auction

Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Samson opened up about his friendship with Buttler and how he has helped him in the last few seasons.

Samson said, “Jos Buttler is one of my closest friends. We played together for seven years. During this time, our batting partnership time itself is so long that we got to know each other so well. He has been like an elder brother to me.“

“Whenever I had a doubt, I would talk to him. When I became captain [in 2021], he was my vice-captain and helped me become a good captain.“

The Indian wicket-keeper mentioned that letting go of Jos Buttler was one of the most challenging decisions for him.

He added, “Letting him go has been one of the most challenging decisions for me. During the England series, I told him over dinner that I was still not over it.“

“If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players every three years. While it has its positives, on a personal level, you lose that connect, that relation you built over years. He was a part of the family. What more can I say?“

Buttler was acquired by Gujarat Titans (GT) for INR 15.75 crores during the mega auction.

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