Sanju Samson requests Rajasthan Royals to release him ahead of IPL 2026 - Reports

Sanju Samson and Rajasthan Royals go back to 2013, when the cricketer joined the franchise for the first time.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) Sanju Samson has reportedly informed the team that he wishes to be released before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. Samson notified the RR management of his plan as soon as the IPL 2025 concluded, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.

Samson and the Royals have been together since 2013, when he was released from the Kolkata Knight Riders. After two years with the Delhi Daredevils in 2016 & 2017, Samson returned to RR in 2018.

Before last year’s mega auction, RR retained six players, including Samson, for INR 18 crores. Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the other players kept.

Rajasthan Royals yet to decide on releasing or retaining Sanju Samson

Due to a side strain, Samson only participated in nine of RR’s 14 IPL 2025 games; Riyan Parag took over as captain in Samson’s absence. However, RR finished in the ninth spot, winning only four games in the tournament.

RR are yet to provide Samson with a definitive response, and the possibility of persuading him to remain with the organization remains open. RR held their 2025 season review meetings in June. When questioned about the development, Manoj Badale, the franchise’s principal owner, remained silent. He will make the ultimate choice in consultation with Rahul Dravid, the head coach of RR.

Samson could be traded to another team or put up for auction if RR decide to let him go. According to the IPL contract, the franchise has the last word in certain situations. A player swap or an all-cash transaction could be considered a trade.

Samson has legally, contractually, and technically committed to the Royals for the length of the current cycle, which ends at the end of the 2027 campaign.

Sanju Samson training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence

Meanwhile, according to ESPNcricinfo, Samson is presently undergoing a standard training program at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, which is intended for a certain group of players who have been shortlisted by the national selectors. He is set to be selected in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.

Prior to that, Samson will participate in a few games in the Kerala Cricket League, where he was recently selected for INR 26.8 lakh by the Kochi Blue Tigers, making him the costliest player in the competition.

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