Rajasthan Royals are all set to have a new captain ahead of IPL 2026. It is all but confirmed that Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is leaving the franchise, and he has reportedly conveyed his decision to the team management.
There have been speculations about this possible separation for a long time, but neither Samson nor the 2008 IPL champions have denied or accepted the rumours. Their silence is a clear hint that the Indian wicketkeeper is exploring fresh opportunities ahead of the IPL 2026.
Sanju Samson’s exit from Rajasthan Royals is all but confirmed ahead of IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are said to be highly interested in signing Samson. But there has not been any official word from these teams or the Kerala star. However, the suspense over Samson’s journey with the Royals will end soon.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Amidst the swirling rumours, it is being said that not just Samson, but another star player groomed by the Rajasthan Royals is all set to leave the franchise ahead of the next edition. However, it is unclear why Jurel is contemplating leaving the Jaipur-based franchise.
Rajasthan Royals promised captaincy to Yashasvi Jaiswal; Dhruv Jurel set to leave the franchise
As reported by Revsportz journalist, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel are leaving the RR ahead of the IPL 2026. He also claimed that Yashasvi Jaiswal has been assured by the Royals team management that he will be handed over the captaincy, but he may have to wait for a season.
However, it will become clear in the next few weeks whether RR wants to give Riyan Parag another season as captain or if Yashasvi Jaiswal will make his captaincy debut next year. The journalist further revealed that Jaiswal wanted to leave the RR, but they stopped him with the captaincy assurance.
Read Also: “Shubman Gill is jealous of Yashasvi Jaiswal”- Twitter reacts to controversial runout
The Rajasthan Royals are planning to abandon their tradition of nurturing young talent from IPL 2026, and they will invest heavily in proven match winners in the upcoming mini auction after their miserable performance in the last two to three seasons.
IPL 2026 Mini-Auction likely between December 13–15
Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 mini-auction is reportedly set to take place in mid-December 2025, with December 13 to 15 emerging as the most likely window. While the official confirmation from the IPL Governing Council is still awaited, internal discussions between the BCCI and franchise representatives are already underway to finalize the exact schedule.
Before the auction drama unfolds, teams will have to make one of their toughest decisions to pick who stays and who goes. The player retention deadline has been tentatively set for November 15. By that date, franchises will need to submit the list of players they wish to retain and those they plan to release into the auction pool.
The IPL mini auction is set for major changes, with no cap on player retentions this time. Last year, teams could keep up to six players and use the Right to Match card. Now, franchises have full freedom to retain or release anyone, setting up a dramatic reshuffle ahead.
