Jaipur, Aug 8: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has reportedly submitted a transfer request ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Samson, who has led the franchise since 2021, is understood to be seeking a move away from the team.The development follows a dismal 2025 campaign for the Royals, who finished ninth in the points table. Samson featured in only nine matches during the season due to a hand injury. Reports of a rift between Samson and head coach Rahul Dravid, who returned to the Royals after his stint with the Indian national team, surfaced during the same period.
The speculation grew so intense that Dravid addressed the matter publicly. Speaking on April 18, ahead of the Royalsâ match against Lucknow Super Giants, he denied any discord.
âI don’t know where these reports are coming from. We are on the same page. Sanju is an integral part of the decision-making and I have a very good rapport with him. He is involved in each and every discussion and decision. This is baseless stuff,â Dravid said at the press conference.
However, according to Cricbuzz, Samson is now reconsidering his future with the franchise, primarily due to the rise of a dynamic opening duo â Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. With Suryavanshi’s emergence, Samson was pushed to the No.3 slot last season, a position he is reportedly reluctant to make permanent.
While the Royals have not yet received serious offers for Samson â retained at 18 crore â his trade request signals a significant shift ahead of IPL 2026.