Sanju Samson set to cut ties with Rajasthan Royals despite Rahul Dravid's exit

Rajasthan Royals have been shocked by the sudden exit of Rahul Dravid. The timing of Dravid’s departure has created a huge buzz because it is being linked directly to the Rajasthan Royals captain, Sanju Samson, who had recently asked the franchise to release him.

It is being said that Sanju Samson requested the franchise to either trade or release him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, as he now wants a fresh start elsewhere. This sparked speculations that Samson is not happy with Dravid and the team management, and even during the IPL 2025, it was visible.

Sanju Samson pushes for Rajasthan Royals release despite Rahul Dravid's exit

And now the former Indian head coach’s resignation as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals added fuel to the fire. But still, Dravid’s exit could not stop Samson from leaving the franchise. It is being said that Samson’s situation has nothing to do with Dravid’s presence or absence.

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As reported by Cricbuzz, Sanju Samson’s relationship with the Rajasthan Royals has reached a stage where he has openly requested the franchise to explore a trade deal for him. Samson wants a new direction in his career and is not happy with where things stand at the franchise.

However, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter cannot just walk away from the franchise on his own. Samson is still bound by a contract with the Royals for another two years, which means the decision is not entirely in the Kerala star’s hands.

Sanju Samson’s future entirely in the Rajasthan Royals

Unless the Rajasthan Royals themselves decide to trade Sanju to another team or release him into the auction pool, Samson will have no option but to stay on with the team, even if he is not happy about it. At the moment, three possible scenarios are ahead for the RR skipper.

The first one is that Sanju could be traded to another franchise if a suitable deal comes up. The second option is that the Royals release him into the auction pool, where he will be free to join any team that buys him. The third possibility is that he continues with the franchise despite being unhappy with the current setup for the next IPL 2026 and possibly in 2027 as well.

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Will RR let Sanju Samson go into the auction?

Presently, the second option—being released into the IPL 2026 auction pool—seems to be the most likely outcome, but the Cricbuzz report suggested that nothing can be confirmed yet. Everything depends on how the RR management plans to handle the situation after Dravid’s shocking exit.

Well, the drama inside the Royals camp is far from over. With Dravid leaving and Samson looking for a way out, the franchise could be heading towards one of the most dramatic shake-ups in IPL history. They are all set to have a new head coach and possibly a new captain in the next season.

Notably, Samson missed the start of the IPL 2025 with injuries, featuring only as an impact player later. Riyan Parag stepped in as captain, shining with the bat by scoring 393 runs at 32.75 and a blazing 166.5 strike rate. But his leadership faltered, managing just two wins in eight matches. Still, Parag is getting the backing of some decision makers for the RR captaincy.