'There is rift between Sanju Samson & Rahul Dravid': World Cup winner drops bomb amid Riyan Parag’s captaincy push

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth has opened up about Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson leaving the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Srikkanth stated that Rajasthan Royals should not part ways with Sanju, adding that releasing him would disrupt the team’s balance.

Sanju Samson has reportedly asked the franchise to release him before the 2026 IPL auction. He has played 155 matches for the Jaipur-based team, scoring 4,219 runs at an average of 31.96 and a strike rate of 140.53, including two centuries and 26 fifties. As captain, he has led the side in 67 games, winning 33.

Don't Think I Would Let Go of Sanju Samson - Kris Srikkanth

It is still uncertain whether RR will part ways with Sanju Samson. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth said that the move would affect the team’s balance. Srikkanth added that there is a possible rift between Samson and Rahul Dravid. He also stated that Samson should continue as a batter if RR want to promote Riyan Parag as skipper.

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“Going by the reports, there seems to be a rift between him and Rahul Dravid, but I am not fully aware. Look at it from a franchise point of view. They have paid him a certain amount and retained him. They have formed the team around him. All of a sudden, if you release him, what happens to the team balance? They haven't won the IPL since 2008,” said Srikkanth.

“They have reached the final after that. I don't think I would let go of Sanju Samson. If they want to promote Riyan Parag as captain, that is their choice. I would still play Samson as a batter. He's been paid INR 18 crore,” he added.

He's the Right Replacement for MS Dhoni - Kris Srikkanth on Sanju Samson

Kris Srikkanth also stated that Sanju Samson would be an ideal addition to Chennai Super Kings. He added that Samson’s talent and brand image make him a valuable prospect. Srikkanth said Samson could serve as the ideal successor to MS Dhoni, allowing for a smooth transition.

"To tell you the truth, Sanju is a brilliant player and he's very popular in Chennai. He's got a good brand image in Chennai. As I said, I'll be the first one to pick him for Chennai if he is willing to leave and comes this side," said Srikkanth.

“He's the right replacement for MS Dhoni. Dhoni can play this season, maybe not the year after and then you can have a smooth transition. But I feel if Ruturaj Gaikwad has been given the captaincy, he should be continued with,” he added.

Sanju Samson Retained for ₹18 Crore by Rajasthan Royals Ahead of IPL 2025

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals retained Sanju Samson for ₹18 crore. There were rumors of a rift between Samson and head coach Rahul Dravid, which Dravid dismissed.

Samson played only nine matches due to injury setbacks. Early in the tournament, he featured solely as an impact player, with Riyan Parag taking over the captaincy during his absence. A later side strain ruled him out for several games.

Samson finished the season with 285 runs at a strike rate of 140.39, as RR ended ninth in the points table. 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi stepped in and made headlines by hitting the fastest century by an Indian in the competition.

With the retention deadline for IPL 2026 set for November, the franchise still has time to decide on his future or persuade him to remain with the team amid interest from Chennai Super Kings.

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