Rajasthan Royals have officially dismissed speculation that their captain, Sanju Samson, will leave the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Reports linking him to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) or Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been categorically denied, reaffirming Samson’s leadership role within the Royals.
Sources confirm that the franchise has decided not to trade Samson—or any key players—this off-season, reinforcing internal stability despite a disappointing ninth-place finish in IPL 2025.
Why Rumours Emerged
Trade speculation gained traction after a mixed IPL 2025 for both Samson and the Rajasthan Royals:
- Samson featured in only nine matches, scoring 285 runs with a single fifty due to recurring injury issues.
- In his absence, Riyan Parag filled in as captain while Samson recovered.
- The rise of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who delivered a standout season and became IPL’s youngest centurion, further fuelled transfer chatter — particularly regarding franchise reshuffles involving CSK or KKR.
Sanju Samson: Unwavering Royals Figurehead
Samson (born November 11, 1994) has been a key figure for Rajasthan Royals since 2013, except during the franchise’s suspension period in 2016–17. As captain, he led RR to the IPL 2022 final and has amassed over 3,900 runs for the team — joining the exclusive club of franchise legends alongside Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
With the appointment of Rahul Dravid as head coach for IPL 2025, the franchise reaffirmed its confidence in Samson’s leadership going into the upcoming season.
