IPL 2026: Will Sanju Samson trade talk end after Rahul Dravid leaves as RR head coach?

Rahul Dravid’s departure from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) seems shocking to some. But was it? Reports had suggested during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 that Dravid and Sanju Samson weren’t on the same page. Was this disagreement the reason behind Samson asking to be traded? If yes, will Dravid’s exit mean that Samson will stay with RR?

What’s next for Samson after Dravid’s exit?

The answer’s complicated. Whatever the issues were or were not between the RR captain and coach, Samson may not have the power to make a decision by himself. According to Cricbuzz, the wicketkeeper batter has signed a contract with the franchise that binds him to play for them at least until IPL 2027.

This means Dravid’s presence or absence for the IPL 2026 season was irrelevant. Samson had no power to make a call. And it’s entirely up to RR to decide what’s next. They have three ways to go about it.

Scenario 1

Now, Samson had asked RR to trade him. But as mentioned above, that’s entirely up to them. They will gauge whether there is a scenario where they can benefit from it. Perhaps Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL retirement opens up a door for a trade with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, reports suggest otherwise. Maybe the Kolkata Knight Riders will be interested, as they don’t have a wicketkeeper or permanent captain.

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Scenario 2

The second is releasing Samson ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Considering this is a mini auction, there might not be many options available. If RR hands someone else, like Riyan Parag, the captaincy, maybe they can find a worthy top-order replacement like Cameron Green.

Scenario 3

That last one isn’t great for either. As mentioned above, Samson is contracted to play for two more seasons with RR. The franchise can decide to retain him. He’ll be unhappy about it, but they have all the power to do it.

All in all, Dravid’s departure may not change anything for Samson for his future at RR.

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