Rajasthan Royals are all set to have a new captain before 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 has been speculation 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 indication that the Indian wicketkeeper is exploring new opportunities ahead of the IPL 2026.
Sanju Samson’s departure from Rajasthan Royals has all but been confirmed ahead of the IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are said to be very interested in signing Samson. But no official word has been received from these teams or the Kerala star. However, the suspense over Samson’s journey with the Royals will end soon.
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Amid the swirling rumours, it is being said that not only Samson but another star player groomed by the Rajasthan Royals is all set to leave the franchise before the next edition. However, it is unclear why Jurel is considering leaving the Jaipur-based franchise.
Rajasthan Royals promised captaincy to Yashasvi Jaiswal; Dhruv Jurel is 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 the captaincy but he may have to wait a season.
However, it will become clear in the coming weeks whether RR will give Riyan Parag another season as captain or whether 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 guarantee.
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The Rajasthan Royals are planning to give up their tradition of nurturing young talent from IPL 2026 onwards and will invest heavily in proven match-winners in the upcoming mini-auction after their miserable performances in the last two-three seasons.
IPL 2026 mini-auction likely between December 13 and 15
Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 mini-auction will reportedly take place in mid-December 2025, with December 13 to 15 being the most likely time. While official confirmation from the IPL Governing Council is still awaited, internal discussions are already underway between the BCCI and franchise representatives to finalize the exact schedule.
Before the auction drama unfolds, teams will have to make one of their toughest decisions: who stays and who goes. The deadline for retaining players has been provisionally set for November 15. By that date, franchises must submit the list of players they want to retain and the players they plan to release into the auction pool.
The IPL mini-auction is set to undergo major changes, with no cap on player retention this time. Last year, teams could keep up to six players and use the Right to Match card. Now franchises have complete freedom to keep or release anyone, which spells the prospect of a dramatic reshuffle.
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