RR Owner Reveals Sanju Samson Was ‘Drained’ Before Trade

Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale explained that Sanju Samson requested a trade due to emotional exhaustion.

Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale has revealed the emotional reasons behind Sanju Samson’s decision to leave the franchise after nearly 14 years. The wicketkeeper-batter was traded to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in a major IPL trade ahead of the 2026 season.

Samson’s journey with Rajasthan Royals began in 2013. After playing until 2015, he spent two seasons with Delhi Capitals before returning to RR in 2018. He eventually became the team’s captain and grew into one of their most iconic players.

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Emotional Toll of Difficult Season

Badale explained that Sanju Samson first expressed his desire to leave following a match against Kolkata Knight Riders toward the end of IPL 2025. The owner described the emotional state that led to Samson’s decision to seek a new chapter.

“The first time this year or in the past year that Sanju talked about moving on was probably in Kolkata towards the end of the season. We had a meeting after the game. He’s a very honest guy, and he was personally, emotionally drained. He cares a huge amount about RR, and I think having our worst season in 18 years took a lot out of him,” Badale said.

The RR owner further elaborated on Samson’s state of mind, noting the player’s need for refreshment after his long service to the franchise. “I think he just felt that, having given the best part of 14 years with a break to RR, he wanted just a new chapter to refresh the end of his journey with the IPL. In the case of Sanju, when he made the request, I think it felt different for us.”

Badale emphasized Samson’s authenticity and contribution to the franchise beyond his batting. “A, because he’s a very authentic man, and if he says something, he generally means it. He’s been an extraordinary servant of the franchise for 14 years. It’s not just the batting that the fans see or the sixes that the fans see; it’s everything else he’s put into it.”

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Addressing rumors of franchise instability, Badale maintained that internal operations remained calm. “While there’s been a sort of media narrative of Rajasthan Royals are in chaos, people leaving, Rahul leaving, the reality is that’s not how it’s felt internally. Internally, we committed to a process and a timeline. We’re maybe one week later than we hope to be, or maybe two weeks later, but it all feels very calm here.”

As Samson begins his new chapter with CSK, Rajasthan Royals fans can look forward to seeing Ravindra Jadeja join their team for IPL 2026.