Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are reported to be involved in a blockbuster trade deal ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, with Sanju Samson and Tristan Stubbs set to exchange camps.

Samson, who has been leading RR since the IPL 2021 season, is reported to have requested the franchise to either trade him or let him throw his hat into the auction ring.

It was earlier speculated that one of the major reasons behind Samson's fallout with RR was their decision to release England talisman Jos Buttler.

According to a TOI report, the Samson-Stubbs trade deal has entered the final stage of negotiations.

"With Samson clear on leaving the Royals, both DC and RR have been locked in negotiations and many tradable options were discussed along the way. It is reliably learnt that DC are keen to have Samson on board but were not willing to trade any of their core players," the report stated.

The report also suggested that RR were interested in securing the services of KL Rahul, but that request was quickly turned down.

"KL Rahul's name came up for discussions for the swap but DC were reluctant to let go of a player who had been their key performer last season and brings a lot of brand value. RR are happy with the idea of having Stubbs in their camp but it's understood that they asked for another uncapped player alongside the South African. That, however, wasn't entertained by the Capitals and there is a bright possibility of seeing Samson back in DC colours from the next IPL season," the report added.

While CSK, for months, were the front-runner to trade Samson, the chances of that happening are all but over. RR had reportedly asked CSK for Ravindra Jadeja in exchange for Samson but the talks didn’t materialize after initial interest.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) seem keen to bring Rahul on board. After a dismal IPL 2025 campaign, the three-time champions are in desperate need of a proven batter who can also lead the side. Rahul, who has previously captained both PBKS and LSG, is an ideal candidate for the leadership role. The other reason is the healthy camaraderie between Rahul and KKR’s new coach Abhishek Nayar.

However, the biggest challenge for KKR is to assemble a tempting trade package for Delhi. The franchise is reportedly unwilling to let go of star performers like Rinku Singh or Angkrish Raghuvanshi, while veterans Andre Russell and Sunil Narine remain untouchable. That leaves KKR with a few elite trade options, making Rahul’s inclusion a complex pursuit.

(With TOI Inputs)