In a major development, India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has reportedly asked Rajasthan Royals (RR) to release or trade him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, following a deepening rift with the franchise.

According to a report published in Cricbuzz, the fallout between Samson and the Royals has escalated considerably.

Members of the cricketer’s family reportedly stated that “he no longer wishes to continue with the Royals,” while IPL and international players close to Samson suggested that “the relationship hasn’t been the same as before.”

The report further claimed that one possible reason behind the rift is RR’s reluctance to allow Samson to choose his own batting position.

Although he usually opens the innings in T20s, Rajasthan preferred Vaibhav Suryavanshi to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top midway through last season.

The left-handed duo forged a formidable opening combination, making it difficult to reshuffle the order. However, the report mentioned this may not be the only source of friction.

Despite Samson’s request to part ways, the final decision lies with the Royals as he remains under contract until 2027. Still, the inaugural champions find itself in a quandary as keeping hold of an unhappy player could disrupt the dressing room while releasing a homegrown star like Samson is equally difficult.

RR is reportedly exploring multiple trade options and has approached all franchises, even those with established wicketkeeper-batters. A few teams responded, but none made an offer that RR deemed acceptable.

Among the interested parties, CSK have expressed clear intent. With MS Dhoni likely to step away soon, the five-time champions look at Samson as a possible long-term replacement. However, trade talks have reportedly hit stalemate. The Super Kings are unwilling to let go any of their current players, and an all-cash one-way deal for a ₹18-crore player like Samson is not under consideration by RR.

Interestingly, Dhoni and CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad have been training together at the franchise’s high-performance centre. While they’ve interacted with the management, the website could not confirm if the Samson trade was part of the discussions.

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)