Social media attraction around Sanju Samson’s IPL trade deal is making headlines all over, and there are now the latest developments emerging around it. Days after several publications reported that Sanju had asked his IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, to release him ahead of the next season, RR approached Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a potential swap deal (including either of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja or Shivam Dube), only for them to face outright rejection. Now that Sanju-CSK chapters seem to be behind us, the franchise has begun approaching other teams over a swap deal before the trade window closes.&nbsp;Cricbuzz, which first reported the fallout of the Samson-CSK deal, has also reported that RR lead owner Manoj Badale is said to be leading the negotiations with other teams. The latest report suggests that Badale has even singled out the players he wants at the Royals (from each franchise) in exchange for Sanju Samson, with RR may have already reached or be closing in on an agreement with one of the teams.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-virat-kohli-quietly-dismissed-odi-retirement-rumours-with-just-one-instagram-post-like-2027-world-cup-1755144103821">How Virat Kohli ‘quietly’ dismissed retirement rumours with just one Instagram post like</a> &nbsp;However, concerning the Super Kings, Rajasthan is speculated to have asked for either Gaikwad or Jadeja for Samson, something CSK wasn’t willing to entertain. Besides, reports of Shivam Dube being part of that conversation also popped up, with the five-time winners showing no interest in trading either of them for Sanju. As much as Sanju joining CSK makes more sense for all parties concerned, they are unwilling to let go of any of their marquee players in this potential trade deal. &nbsp;As things stand, the Samson-CSK trade deal looks unlikely to go ahead unless RR decides to put Sanju’s name in the auction and CSK releases several players to prepare the budget to chase him.&nbsp;<h3>Tight situation between RR and Samson &nbsp;</h3>The reports have also stated that it all went the wrong direction after RR decided not to retain their marquee opener and top T20 batter Jos Buttler, instead choosing to retain Shimron Hetmyer at last year’s mega auction.&nbsp; &nbsp;"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," Samson had said in a chat with Star Sports before last IPL season. &nbsp;Samson, however, informed the franchise of parting ways just after the conclusion of IPL 2025.&nbsp;

Sanju captained RR in nine games the past season, scoring over 280 runs, with just one fifty to his name. Rajasthan stood at the ninth spot on the points table with four wins in 14 contested matches. 

Social media attraction around Sanju Samson’s IPL trade deal is making headlines all over, and there are now the latest developments emerging around it. Days after several publications reported that Sanju had asked his IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, to release him ahead of the next season, RR approached Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a potential swap deal (including either of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja or Shivam Dube), only for them to face outright rejection. Now that Sanju-CSK chapters seem to be behind us, the franchise has begun approaching other teams over a swap deal before the trade window closes. Cricbuzz, which first reported the fallout of the Samson-CSK deal, has also reported that RR lead owner Manoj Badale is said to be leading the negotiations with other teams. The latest report suggests that Badale has even singled out the players he wants at the Royals (from each franchise) in exchange for Sanju Samson, with RR may have already reached or be closing in on an agreement with one of the teams. Also read | How Virat Kohli ‘quietly’ dismissed retirement rumours with just one Instagram post like However, concerning the Super Kings, Rajasthan is speculated to have asked for either Gaikwad or Jadeja for Samson, something CSK wasn’t willing to entertain. Besides, reports of Shivam Dube being part of that conversation also popped up, with the five-time winners showing no interest in trading either of them for Sanju. As much as Sanju joining CSK makes more sense for all parties concerned, they are unwilling to let go of any of their marquee players in this potential trade deal. As things stand, the Samson-CSK trade deal looks unlikely to go ahead unless RR decides to put Sanju’s name in the auction and CSK releases several players to prepare the budget to chase him. Tight situation between RR and Samson The reports have also stated that it all went the wrong direction after RR decided not to retain their marquee opener and top T20 batter Jos Buttler, instead choosing to retain Shimron Hetmyer at last year’s mega auction. "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," Samson had said in a chat with Star Sports before last IPL season. Samson, however, informed the franchise of parting ways just after the conclusion of IPL 2025.

Sanju captained RR in nine games the past season, scoring over 280 runs, with just one fifty to his name. Rajasthan stood at the ninth spot on the points table with four wins in 14 contested matches.&nbsp;

Sanju Samson IPL Trade Deal: Desperate Rajasthan Royals approach other teams after CSK reject first offer

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson broke his silence on his equation with his IPL franchise amid rumours of him handing in a transfer request ahead of the next season. The latest reports suggest that Samson has asked RR to release him before the IPL 2026 trade window closes, with the keeper-batter seeking life elsewhere in this cash-rich league. Part of the Royals family since making his IPL debut for them in 2012, Samson, who also played for Delhi Daredevils in the meantime, now captains the team, having led them to an IPL final in 2022.&nbsp;He even led Rajasthan Royals this season, although he sat out of five matches due to a side strain, with Riyan Parag assuming the captaincy duties in his absence. In IPL 2025, he played nine games and scored 285 runs with just one fifty-plus score (66). However, due to regular shuffling in the leadership group and a failed team effort throughout, RR stood ninth on the points table, winning just four out of 14 contested matches. &nbsp;Meanwhile, in a recent chat with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Samson spoke his heart out on his relations with his IPL team.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-how-vaibhav-suryavanshi-arrival-forced-sanju-samson-to-part-ways-with-rajasthan-royals-1754750063741">IPL 2026: How Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s arrival forced Sanju Samson to part ways with Rajasthan Royals</a> &nbsp;"RR has meant the world to me. A small child coming from a village in Kerala, wanting to show his talent. And then Rahul (Dravid) sir and Manoj Badale sir gave me a stage to get up and show the world what I am made of," Samson recalled while speaking with Ashwin.&nbsp; &nbsp;"That time, they trusted me throughout. The journey with RR has been really great, and I’m very grateful to have been in a franchise like that. It really means a lot to me,” Samson said of RR backing him during his early years in the league. &nbsp;Meanwhile, RR appointed Samson the full-time captain in 2021, with his team succeeding under his leadership, while also nurturing several young talents, who later represented India across different formats.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ahead of the last IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan retained Sanju for a whopping INR 18 crore, alongside five other players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Sandeep Sharma.&nbsp;

In a recent chat with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Samson spoke his heart out on his relations with his IPL team. 

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson broke his silence on his equation with his IPL franchise amid rumours of him handing in a transfer request ahead of the next season. The latest reports suggest that Samson has asked RR to release him before the IPL 2026 trade window closes, with the keeper-batter seeking life elsewhere in this cash-rich league. Part of the Royals family since making his IPL debut for them in 2012, Samson, who also played for Delhi Daredevils in the meantime, now captains the team, having led them to an IPL final in 2022. He even led Rajasthan Royals this season, although he sat out of five matches due to a side strain, with Riyan Parag assuming the captaincy duties in his absence. In IPL 2025, he played nine games and scored 285 runs with just one fifty-plus score (66). However, due to regular shuffling in the leadership group and a failed team effort throughout, RR stood ninth on the points table, winning just four out of 14 contested matches. Meanwhile, in a recent chat with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Samson spoke his heart out on his relations with his IPL team. Also read | IPL 2026: How Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s arrival forced Sanju Samson to part ways with Rajasthan Royals "RR has meant the world to me. A small child coming from a village in Kerala, wanting to show his talent. And then Rahul (Dravid) sir and Manoj Badale sir gave me a stage to get up and show the world what I am made of," Samson recalled while speaking with Ashwin. "That time, they trusted me throughout. The journey with RR has been really great, and I’m very grateful to have been in a franchise like that. It really means a lot to me,” Samson said of RR backing him during his early years in the league. Meanwhile, RR appointed Samson the full-time captain in 2021, with his team succeeding under his leadership, while also nurturing several young talents, who later represented India across different formats. Ahead of the last IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan retained Sanju for a whopping INR 18 crore, alongside five other players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Sandeep Sharma.

In a recent chat with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Samson spoke his heart out on his relations with his IPL team.&nbsp;

IPL 2026: Sanju Samson breaks silence on his equation with Rajasthan Royals amid transfer request rumours

Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson has informed his IPL franchise of his wish to try his fortune elsewhere ahead of next season’s trade window. Per the latest reports, Samson has asked RR to release him ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2026 auction, scheduled for later this year. Samson, who captained the franchise the previous season, is reported to have informed the team about his decision following the conclusion of IPL 2025. The RR, which had its season review meeting in June, hasn’t agreed upon Samson’s request yet, also keeping the option to convince him to stay put open.&nbsp;The franchise’s lead owner, Manoj Badale, however, will take the final call on Samson’s exit after coordinating with the team’s head coach, Rahul Dravid.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/veteran-zimbabwe-cricketer-brendan-taylor-enters-elite-list-of-longest-test-careers-surpasses-former-english-pacer-james-anderson-1754567776110">Veteran Zimbabwe cricketer Brendan Taylor enters THIS elite list. Deets inside</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, should Rajasthan Royals decide to let Samson leave, they might either trade him to another team for a player swap or an all-cash deal or put him in the auction. As per the IPL contract, it's the respective franchise that holds the final say in such cases.<h3>Samson at RR</h3>Sanju Samson made his IPL debut 12 years ago in 2013, with RR being his first team. After gaining little experience with them during his two-year stint, Samson joined Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals now) for two years before rejoining his first IPL team back in 2018. The franchise appointed him the captain in 2021, with Samson leading RR to an IPL final for the first time since winning the inaugural edition (in 2008) in 2022, only to lose to the newcomers Gujarat Titans. &nbsp;Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, the two top performers of that edition, were let go ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with Rajasthan retaining six players, which also included Sanju Samson for INR 18 crore ($2.14 million approx. then). The remaining five players were opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma and Shimron Hetmyer.&nbsp; &nbsp;Samson, 30, however, played just nine of the 14 contested matches the past season due to a side strain, with Parag leading the team in his absence. Rajasthan stood ninth on the points table with just four wins.<h3>Samson to CSK?</h3>Rumours of Sanju wanting to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have again started doing the rounds, with several reports suggesting that both parties see this as a win-win situation.&nbsp; &nbsp;While Samson will get a new home in the cash-rich league, CSK will also have MS Dhoni’s right replacement at the helm, with the veteran cricketer showing signs of saying goodbye to franchise cricket ahead of IPL 2026.&nbsp;

Samson, who captained Rajasthan Royals to an IPL final in 2022, has decided on his future ahead of next season's trade window. 

Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson has informed his IPL franchise of his wish to try his fortune elsewhere ahead of next season’s trade window. Per the latest reports, Samson has asked RR to release him ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2026 auction, scheduled for later this year. Samson, who captained the franchise the previous season, is reported to have informed the team about his decision following the conclusion of IPL 2025. The RR, which had its season review meeting in June, hasn’t agreed upon Samson’s request yet, also keeping the option to convince him to stay put open. The franchise’s lead owner, Manoj Badale, however, will take the final call on Samson’s exit after coordinating with the team’s head coach, Rahul Dravid. Also read | Veteran Zimbabwe cricketer Brendan Taylor enters THIS elite list. Deets inside Meanwhile, should Rajasthan Royals decide to let Samson leave, they might either trade him to another team for a player swap or an all-cash deal or put him in the auction. As per the IPL contract, it's the respective franchise that holds the final say in such cases. Samson at RR Sanju Samson made his IPL debut 12 years ago in 2013, with RR being his first team. After gaining little experience with them during his two-year stint, Samson joined Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals now) for two years before rejoining his first IPL team back in 2018. The franchise appointed him the captain in 2021, with Samson leading RR to an IPL final for the first time since winning the inaugural edition (in 2008) in 2022, only to lose to the newcomers Gujarat Titans. Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, the two top performers of that edition, were let go ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with Rajasthan retaining six players, which also included Sanju Samson for INR 18 crore ($2.14 million approx. then). The remaining five players were opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma and Shimron Hetmyer. Samson, 30, however, played just nine of the 14 contested matches the past season due to a side strain, with Parag leading the team in his absence. Rajasthan stood ninth on the points table with just four wins. Samson to CSK? Rumours of Sanju wanting to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have again started doing the rounds, with several reports suggesting that both parties see this as a win-win situation. While Samson will get a new home in the cash-rich league, CSK will also have MS Dhoni’s right replacement at the helm, with the veteran cricketer showing signs of saying goodbye to franchise cricket ahead of IPL 2026.

Samson, who captained Rajasthan Royals to an IPL final in 2022, has decided on his future ahead of next season's trade window.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson drops bombshell on transfer rumours ahead of IPL 2026 trade window

KL Rahul, the Delhi Capitals (DC) superstar, could be on his way to joining the three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the next season. In a startling development surrounding the IPL 2026 trade window, Rahul, who joined DC from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year for a whopping $1.6m (INR 14 crore), could be seen wearing KKR’s jersey in the 19th edition. After LSG roped him in the IPL 2022 mega auction, making him the captain for the next three years, they released him ahead of the last mega auction, with Delhi acquiring his services. Despite Rahul leading the run-scoring chart for Delhi the past season (539 runs in 13 innings), he could decide on his future sooner.&nbsp;Rahul's move to Delhi almost did wonders, serving multiple purposes. Perhaps upset over the infamous public meltdown from his former franchise team owner (Sanjiv Goenka) following losing an away clash against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024, Rahul was anyway seeking another home in the cash-rich league, which, with the DC transfer, happened. On the other hand, what worked for Delhi was that they had an Indian player as captain, a luxury for any franchise, making this a dream come true for all parties involved.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-2025-ravi-ashwin-warns-india-of-england-exceptional-talent-jacob-bethell-ahead-of-oval-test-1753943856833">Ravi Ashwin warns India of England’s ‘exceptional talent’ ahead of Oval Test, says ‘cricketing world will get to see…’</a> &nbsp;KKR, elsewhere, struggled massively after letting go of their title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, just one season after their IPL 2024 triumph, later appointing Ajinkya Rahane as his replacement for the next season. Unsure of their potential captaincy options, KKR chose Rahane, whom they bought in the second round late on day two of the mega auction for INR 1.5 crore. This move, however, turned disastrous for the franchise, as Rahane failed to help them reach the playoffs, let alone help them defend their IPL title.&nbsp; &nbsp;The three-time winners stood eighth on the points table, with just five wins from 14 contested matches. &nbsp;Although rumours of KKR letting go of Rahane ahead of the next season made headlines shortly after their IPL 2025 campaign came to an end, reports of them wanting to have KL Rahul on board have begun doing the rounds. Should this deal materialise during the trade window, KKR will have a marquee Indian player as a captain and wicketkeeper, serving several purposes.&nbsp; &nbsp;Since KKR have two keepers, both internationals (Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz), appointing an experienced Indian gloveman would do wonders. KL, however, didn’t keep wickets for Delhi this season but is used to such duties.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, a Times of India (TOI) report suggests that KKR is working on a trade deal to sign Rahul ahead of the next season, luring him into making the franchise captain.&nbsp;

After LSG roped KL Rahul in the IPL 2022 mega auction, making him the captain for the next three years, they released him ahead of the last mega auction, with Delhi acquiring his services.

KL Rahul, the Delhi Capitals (DC) superstar, could be on his way to joining the three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the next season. In a startling development surrounding the IPL 2026 trade window, Rahul, who joined DC from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year for a whopping $1.6m (INR 14 crore), could be seen wearing KKR’s jersey in the 19th edition. After LSG roped him in the IPL 2022 mega auction, making him the captain for the next three years, they released him ahead of the last mega auction, with Delhi acquiring his services. Despite Rahul leading the run-scoring chart for Delhi the past season (539 runs in 13 innings), he could decide on his future sooner. Rahul's move to Delhi almost did wonders, serving multiple purposes. Perhaps upset over the infamous public meltdown from his former franchise team owner (Sanjiv Goenka) following losing an away clash against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024, Rahul was anyway seeking another home in the cash-rich league, which, with the DC transfer, happened. On the other hand, what worked for Delhi was that they had an Indian player as captain, a luxury for any franchise, making this a dream come true for all parties involved. Also read | Ravi Ashwin warns India of England’s ‘exceptional talent’ ahead of Oval Test, says ‘cricketing world will get to see…’ KKR, elsewhere, struggled massively after letting go of their title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, just one season after their IPL 2024 triumph, later appointing Ajinkya Rahane as his replacement for the next season. Unsure of their potential captaincy options, KKR chose Rahane, whom they bought in the second round late on day two of the mega auction for INR 1.5 crore. This move, however, turned disastrous for the franchise, as Rahane failed to help them reach the playoffs, let alone help them defend their IPL title. The three-time winners stood eighth on the points table, with just five wins from 14 contested matches. Although rumours of KKR letting go of Rahane ahead of the next season made headlines shortly after their IPL 2025 campaign came to an end, reports of them wanting to have KL Rahul on board have begun doing the rounds. Should this deal materialise during the trade window, KKR will have a marquee Indian player as a captain and wicketkeeper, serving several purposes. Since KKR have two keepers, both internationals (Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz), appointing an experienced Indian gloveman would do wonders. KL, however, didn’t keep wickets for Delhi this season but is used to such duties. Meanwhile, a Times of India (TOI) report suggests that KKR is working on a trade deal to sign Rahul ahead of the next season, luring him into making the franchise captain.

After LSG roped KL Rahul in the IPL 2022 mega auction, making him the captain for the next three years, they released him ahead of the last mega auction, with Delhi acquiring his services.

KL Rahul to KKR ahead of IPL 2026 could be a possibility - Report

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 trade window is likely to open soon and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would be keen on extending their squad and acquiring a few gun players to boost their chances for a successful title defence. While many IPL teams would expect a settled side to avoid big changes to the title-winning squad, smart team management knows that improving depth and addressing weaknesses is the key to being the best. With the trade window set to open shortly, let’s take a look at three players RCB might target.&nbsp;1. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)&nbsp;Glenn Phillips has been in terrific form in T20 leagues across the globe. Despite his solid run, Gujarat Titans (GT) barely gave him a chance in IPL 2025 and when they finally did, he fell prey to injury. Currently dominating in Major League Cricket (MLC), Phillips is a reliable batter, who also offers part-time bowling. With 265 T20 games under his belt, he brings power and experience. He could be a valuable middle-order option for RCB, especially on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy surface.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brijesh-solanki-state-level-kabaddi-player-dies-of-rabies-weeks-after-being-bitten-by-puppy-he-tried-saving-1751517522961">State-level Kabaddi player dies of rabies weeks after being bitten by puppy he tried saving</a>&nbsp;2. Mukesh Kumar (India)&nbsp;Mukesh hasn’t quite succeeded on Delhi’s slower pitches, but his swing bowling can be more effective in Bengaluru. RCB already boasts seamers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar; Mukesh could complete a potent pace trio, especially in powerplay overs. With 83 wickets in 77 T20s and the ability to move the ball early, he can be a smart tactical addition in the bowling department.&nbsp;3. Abhinav Manohar (India)&nbsp;Bringing in a local player is always smart for fan engagement and Karnataka’s Abhinav Manohar fits that move. A solid middle-order batter with home-ground experience, he could be a more reliable option than someone like Swastik Chikara. Currently, with SRH, Manohar might be available if they opt for squad changes.

While many franchises would expect a settled side to avoid big changes to the title-winning squad, smart team management knows that improving depth and addressing weaknesses is the key to being the best.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 trade window is likely to open soon and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would be keen on extending their squad and acquiring a few gun players to boost their chances for a successful title defence. While many IPL teams would expect a settled side to avoid big changes to the title-winning squad, smart team management knows that improving depth and addressing weaknesses is the key to being the best. With the trade window set to open shortly, let’s take a look at three players RCB might target. 1. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand) Glenn Phillips has been in terrific form in T20 leagues across the globe. Despite his solid run, Gujarat Titans (GT) barely gave him a chance in IPL 2025 and when they finally did, he fell prey to injury. Currently dominating in Major League Cricket (MLC), Phillips is a reliable batter, who also offers part-time bowling. With 265 T20 games under his belt, he brings power and experience. He could be a valuable middle-order option for RCB, especially on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy surface. Also Read | State-level Kabaddi player dies of rabies weeks after being bitten by puppy he tried saving 2. Mukesh Kumar (India) Mukesh hasn’t quite succeeded on Delhi’s slower pitches, but his swing bowling can be more effective in Bengaluru. RCB already boasts seamers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar; Mukesh could complete a potent pace trio, especially in powerplay overs. With 83 wickets in 77 T20s and the ability to move the ball early, he can be a smart tactical addition in the bowling department. 3. Abhinav Manohar (India) Bringing in a local player is always smart for fan engagement and Karnataka’s Abhinav Manohar fits that move. A solid middle-order batter with home-ground experience, he could be a more reliable option than someone like Swastik Chikara. Currently, with SRH, Manohar might be available if they opt for squad changes.

While many IPL teams would expect a settled side to avoid big changes to the title-winning squad, smart team management knows that improving depth and addressing weaknesses is the key to being the best.

3 players who could join RCB in IPL 2026. One name will shock you