3 Teams Sanju Samson Can Join Ahead Of IPL 2026: It seems that Sanju Samson’s time with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) has come to an end in the IPL, and the Kerala keeper-batsman could be on his way to joining a new team for IPL 2026.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, the biggest surprise fans, especially those of RR, could receive is the potential parting of the ways of Samson and the Royals.
Samson joined RR in IPL 2013 and was there until 2015, before RR got a two-year suspension. When RR returned in 2018, Samson was immediately picked up by the franchise and has been with them since.
Sanju Samson was given the captaincy of the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. In IPL 2022, he took them to the final, where they lost to the Gujarat Titans. RR reached the playoffs in IPL 2024 as well.
IPL 2026: Is Sanju Samson leaving RR?
It has been reported by ESPNcricinfo that Samson has asked Rajasthan Royals franchise to release him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. RR can either release him in the auction pool or trade him with another franchise for another player(s) or only cash.
It is learned that Samson informed RR of his wish to be released soon after the IPL 2025 concluded. The final decision, though, stays with the franchise. He was retained for INR 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, and Shimron Hetmyer.
If RR released or traded Samson away, where could he land?
3 Teams Sanju Samson Can Join Ahead Of IPL 2026 Auction
Chennai Super Kings
CSK seems an ideal fit for Samson. He’d learn under MS Dhoni, with the franchise also looking for a future wicket-keeper and middle-order batsman to replace Dhoni.
Not only that, but CSK have been underwhelming in the last two seasons under Ruturaj Gaikwad. If CSK do get into the trade deal for Samson, or go after him hard in the auction, you might see Samson leading CSK in IPL 2026.
Kolkata Knight Riders
A franchise most desperate for a new captain is KKR, who, under Ajinkya Rahane, ended 8th in the points table last year, and their top and middle order looked unsettled following the departure of Shreyas Iyer.
With Samson bringing in plenty of experience in both captaincy and the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, KKR seem to be the frontrunner to rope in the Kerala cricketer if he indeed moves away from RR.
Delhi Capitals
While Delhi Capitals did well under Axar Patel in IPL 2025, finishing in the fifth spot in the points table, they had issues at the top of the order. Faf du Plessis is 41 years old now and has been injury-prone recently, while Jake Fraser-McGurk is highly volatile and inconsistent at this level.
DC may continue with Axar as their skipper in IPL 2026, but bringing in Sanju Samson will resolve their problems in the opening slot.
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