Sanju Samson is highly likely to leave Rajasthan Royals (RR) despite the number of changes in their backroom staff and he could be seen in new colours in IPL 2026. Multiple reports have confirmed that he wrote to RR to release him before the next season.
Reports also claimed that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were interested in signing him. But Samson moving to the Yellow Army looks unlikely.
The Times of India has reported that Samson could be headed to Delhi Capitals (DC). The report claims that DC and RR are close to finalising a deal. Samson will move to DC, while Tristan Stubbs will be seen playing for RR in IPL 2026.
KL Rahul’s name also came up for discussions but DC wanted to retain their core, the report adds. Rahul joined DC in the IPL 2025 mega-auction and scored 539 runs in 13 matches he played. The right-handed batsman scored the most runs for the Delhi-based franchise in IPL 2025.
Should Samson move to DC, he will join the elite list of captains to get traded. The wicketkeeper-batsman took over RR’s captaincy before IPL 2021. Under him, RR reached the final of IPL 2022, where they lost to debutants Gujarat Titans.
Sanju Samson’s RR career
A little-known Sanju Samson joined RR before IPL 2013 after he impressed Rahul Dravid. He made an immediate impact in the T20 league and earned his maiden India call-up following IPL 2014. He made his India debut in a T20I against Zimbabwe in 2015.
Samson returned to RR in the IPL 2018 mega-auction and has been with them since then. He replaced Steve Smith as RR’s captain before IPL 2021. RR haven’t won an IPL trophy under him.
Samson has 4027 runs for RR in 149 IPL matches. He is the only batsman with more than 3500 runs for the Rajasthan-based franchise in IPL. RR have 33 wins and 32 defeats from 67 matches with Samson at the helm.