As the Indian Premier League 2026 auction approaches, one player who has been the most talked about is the Rajasthan Royals' skipper, Sanju Samson.
As per latest reports, Samson has asked his franchise to release him ahead of the IPL mini-auction, which has sent social media ablaze.
The wicket-keeper batter has been a part of the Royals' franchise for the past 13 years, and in the process has become the all-time highest run-getter of the side.
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Several rumours about a possible trade of Sanju Samson have been circulating all over social media. As per reports, a lot of sides are eager to pull in the experienced keeper-batter to their team.
In the last IPL season, the Royals finished 9th on the points table, with 4 wins and 10 losses. They were only above the Super Kings, who lagged only on the virtue of the net-run rate. Samson played the season through multiple injuries, featuring in only 9 games.
In his absence, the Royals' side saw the rise of the 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an opener, while Dhruv Jurel fulfilled the wicket-keeping duties.
READ: IPL 2026: Three reasons why Sanju Samson should join CSK
As the possibility of a trade deal between KKR and RR for the Kerala star rises, TSN explores the reasons that make this a perfect deal for the franchise and the player.
Three reasons why Samson should join the CSK ahead of IPL 2026:
1. KKR's quest for a new leader
The three-time IPL winner, Kolkata Knight Riders, is in search of a new leader. KKR surprisingly let go of their championship-winning skipper, Shreyas Iyer, before the previous year's auction. Ajinkya Rahane was the skipper in charge of the side for the last season, which saw the team finish 8th on the table, winning just 5 out of the 14 games.
MORE: IPL 2026: Three reasons why Sanju Samson should join CSK ahead of the new Indian Premier League season
2. Sanju Samson's stardom and a strong dressing room presence
The star from Kerala not only brings with him the cricketing skills, but also a strong presence and an aura that inspires others around him. Samson, over the years, has seen significant growth, both as a batter and captain. His presence in the KKR dressing room would add additional value to the side and create a calming influence on the side.
3. KKR needs a wicket-keeping batter who can open
While Phil Salt's services in the 2024 season played a crucial role in KKR's title-winning campaign, the side significantly missed an opening batter who could provide them with great starts.
Quinton De Cock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, along with Luvnith Sisodia, were the wicket-keeping options for the side last year. However, none of them were able to make things work for their side.
Samson would provide KKR with an Indian wicket-keeping option and a batter who can bat at the top and provide explosive starts.