The wk-batter Sanju Samson has told Rajasthan Royals to release him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. It is reported that the 30-year-old has informed management immediately after the end of IPL 2025.

Rajasthan Royals had their 2025 season review meetings in June, but Samson has not given a definitive answer, and the option of convincing him to stay with the team is still open.

The franchise’s leader, Manoj Badale, has remained silent when asked about the development.

The final decision will be taken by him in coordination with RR head coach Rahul Dravid.

If the Royals had decided to release Sanju Samson, they could either trade him to another franchise or send him into the auction.

As per the IPL contract, the final say will be decided by the franchise. As far as a trade is concerned it could be a players swap or an all-cash deal.

Sanju Samson has been part of the Rajasthan Royals since 2013 and 2015 and then rejoined them in 2018 after two years at Delhi Daredevils.

He was then appointed as the captain of the franchise in 2021.

In 2022 season, he led Rajasthan to IPL final for the first time since they won the inaugural edition in 2008.

Sanju Samson was one of the six players retained ahead of the last year’s auction for a price of INR 18 crore.

The other retained players were Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma and Shimron Hetmyer.

Samson did play only 9 out of 14 games in the 2025 season due to side strain.

In his absence, Riyan Parag was named as the captain. The secure only four wins anf finished in ninth position of the points table.

Sanju Samson is currently at the BCCI‘s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for a routine training programme designed for a targeted pool of players shortlisted by the national selectors.

He will likely be picked in the Kerala Cricket League where he was picked by Kochi Blue Tigers for INR 26.8 lakh, making him the most expensive player in the tournament.

Rajasthan have another two months to make a decision on Samson before the IPL’s retention deadline in November.