Sanju Samson ditches Rajasthan Royals despite Rahul Dravid sacrifice; new captain hunt begins

Rajasthan Royals (RR) are reportedly expected to announce a new leader in IPL 2026, with Sanju Samson unlikely to continue as captain. Former Team India captain Rahul Dravid recently resigned as head coach, and either Riyan Parag or Yashasvi Jaiswal is set to take charge of the inaugural IPL Champions.

Samson had reportedly shown interest in leaving the Royals ahead of the 2026 auction, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerging as a possible destination. Rahul Dravid’s second stint with the Royals ended abruptly after just one season in 2025. There is still uncertainty around Samson’s future as captain.

Rahul Dravid Exits and Sanju Samson’s Uncertain Future

According to a report by RevSportz, Rahul Dravid parted ways with Rajasthan Royals after disagreements with the management over cricketing decisions. The franchise had offered him a "broader role," which he declined.

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Sanju Samson’s ties with the Royals have weakened after he reportedly requested a release following IPL 2025. The wicketkeeper-batsman was approached by the Chennai Super Kings for a potential trade.

Notably, the Super Kings dismissed talks around a swap deal involving Shivam Dube or Ravindra Jadeja, and the five-time champions have since cooled their interest in Samson.

Rajasthan Royals Face Big Call on Sanju Samson’s Future

Sanju Samson has been with the Rajasthan Royals since 2013. He was appointed captain in 2021 and led the team to the final the following year. The batter was retained for ₹18 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

Franchise owner Manoj Badale will decide whether Samson stays for two more seasons, is traded before the next campaign, or re-enters the auction pool. He will also take a call on the captaincy issue.

Samson struggled with injuries in 2025, missing five matches and starting several others as an Impact Sub. Riyan Parag stepped in as captain during his absence, but the Royals endured a poor season, finishing ninth with only four wins.

With the team missing the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, speculation is mounting that the Royals may hand over the captaincy to Parag heading into next year.

Riyan Parag or Yashasvi Jaiswal Set to Take Over from Sanju Samson

The report added that Sanju Samson is unlikely to continue as captain even if he stays with the franchise. There are differing opinions within the camp regarding the skipper’s successor.

One faction is backing Riyan Parag to take charge, while another group feels Yashasvi Jaiswal should be handed the responsibility. The Royals’ management, however, has “come down strongly” on leaks, keeping any decision under wraps.

"There’s a school of thought that even if Samson stays put with the franchise, he might not continue as captain, for some bridges have been burned. Within the Royals set-up, Parag has his backers to take over the reins," the report read.

"Another group is in favour of handing over the responsibility to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Franchise people are tight-lipped at the moment, fearful of consequences for any leaks. It is learnt that the management has “come down strongly” on them."

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