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The trade saga surrounding Rajasthan Royals' (RR) captain Sanju Samson has taken a different turn now. If a Telegraph report is to be believed, RR are in advanced discussions to trade Sanju Samson another franchise now. While initial rumors strongly linked him with a move to Chennai Super Kings, talks with that franchise have reportedly been dropped.
RR to trade Sanju Samson to KKR now?
Instead, RR are now said to be in final-stage talks with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The report indicates that Sanju Samson has formally requested his release from RR due to 'serious differences' with the team's management. Samson was retained by the inaugural IPL champions for Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2025 mega-auction but is reportedly no longer interested in remaining with the team.
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This is why RR have been exploring trade options for the star wicketkeeper-batter, and they are reportedly nearing a deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). According to sources, RR has already provided KKR with a list of players they want in exchange for Samson.
It is believed that a deal could be finalised in the coming days. However, the report also clarifies that the trade will not involve star spinners Sunil Narine or Varun Chakravarthy, both of whom will be staying with the Knight Riders.
"The Royals have been looking for a quality spinner, but the question of KKR trading Sunil Narine or Varun Chakravarthy for Samson doesn’t arise, sources told The Telegraph," the report read.
Going by the same report, the three-time champions KKR might trade young batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi or explosive all-rounder Ramandeep Singh for Samson. The Royals are looking to strengthen their middle order for the upcoming IPL season, and if a player trade cannot be agreed upon, the deal could be an all-cash transaction.
Both teams had a difficult run in the 2025 Indian Premier League season. The Rajasthan Royals finished ninth with only four wins from 14 matches. The team struggled in both batting and bowling, with the one bright spot being the emergence of 14-year-old batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who impressed as an opener. Similarly, the Kolkata Knight Riders, under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, also had a tough season, finishing in eighth place with five wins.
The potential addition of Samson could be a significant move for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they are reportedly in urgent need of a new Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and a potential leader. The team is also reportedly in talks to bring in Kumar Sangakkara as a coach, after parting ways with Chandrakant Pandit.
Prior to KKR's involvement, it was widely rumored that the Rajasthan Royals captain, Sanju Samson, would be traded to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The five-time champions had also shown interest in the wicketkeeper-batsman but were not willing to trade key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, or Shivam Dube in exchange. CSK has a history of not trading players with other franchises, a trend that is expected to continue.
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