Sanju Samson has told Rajasthan Royals that he no longer wants to play for them. The old captain has officially asked to be traded to another team or released in the IPL auction.
This soon became one of the biggest stories in IPL Trade Talk. But the case is not as easy as a player who wants to leave. Rules, contracts, emotions and years of history are involved.
A gap between Samson and Royals
Several people near Samson, including family members and colleague players, have said that his relationship with the franchise is not what it used to be. Things seem to have gone downhill, and the player now wants a new start elsewhere.
A possible reason? Allegedly, Samson wanted to open the batting, just like he was in T20s for India, but that place was already taken by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The royals had found a solid opening couple last season and did not want to break it.
But there can be more to this than just Batting positions.
What the rules say
Even if Samson wants, the final decision is not in his hands. IPL rules are clear – as soon as a player is signed or by retention or auction, he is bound to that team for three years. This current cycle runs until the end of IPL 2027.
Only the franchise has the right to release or exchange a player. So technically, the Royals Samson can keep, whether he wants to stay or not.
This places the team in a difficult place. Do they have to stick to a player who doesn’t want to be there? Or should they try to find a profession that works for both parties?
Royals Explore Options
Sources say that the royals have contacted almost all IPL franchises to see if anyone is interested in an exchange. Some teams have shown interest, including those who already have Wicketkeeper batters.
Chennai Super Kings is supposed to be the most interested parties. But CSK is known for not releasing their players, so a direct trade looks unlikely. A one-way trade, All-cash trade is also excluded, because Samson is a selection framework with a price tag of £ 18 crore.
CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad has recently been to the High-Performance Center of the Franchise in Chennai and there have been meetings with top players and management.
It is not clear whether the situation of Samson emerged in those conversations. CSK officials say that their only option can be to wait at the auction if Samson is released.
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