Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has addressed his long-standing association with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at a time when reports suggest he could leave the franchise before the 2026 IPL season.

Samson, who began his IPL career with RR in 2013 and became captain in 2021, led the side to the 2022 final before falling short against Gujarat Titans. Over the years, he has grown into the face of the franchise, amassing 4,219 runs in 150 innings — the most by any Royals player.

However, recent reports claim Samson has requested a transfer, seeking a fresh challenge in the IPL. While he did not confirm or deny the speculation, Samson used a conversation with teammate Ravichandran Ashwin on YouTube to express deep gratitude to the team and its key figures.

“RR has meant the world to me. A small child coming from a village in Kerala, wanting to show his talent. And then Rahul (Dravid) sir and Manoj Badale sir gave me a stage to show the world what I am made of. They trusted me throughout, and the journey has been really great. I’m very grateful to have been in a franchise like that,” he said.

Injuries and Speculation Over the Future

Before the last mega auction, RR retained Samson for ₹18 crore, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, and Shimron Hetmyer. But his IPL 2025 campaign was cut short to just nine matches due to a side strain, with Riyan Parag stepping in as stand-in skipper. RR finished a disappointing ninth, winning only four games.

The dip in performance, coupled with reports of internal changes, has fuelled talk of Samson potentially joining Chennai Super Kings — a move that could align with CSK’s transition plans as the MS Dhoni era nears its end.

For now, Samson remains publicly respectful and appreciative of RR, but whether he wears pink or yellow in 2026 could be one of the biggest talking points of the next IPL season.

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