The truth behind IPL 2026’s most talked-about trade involving Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja has now surfaced, and the full picture comes across much more clearly than the early reports hinted at.
For months, many dismissed the exchange between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings as a rumour, as every update insisted that conversations had stalled and that neither side knew where the discussions were heading. However, the transfer still went through, and that sudden shift gave the story a new angle, especially because Samson had spoken warmly about the Royals on a podcast with Ravichandran Ashwin, calling the franchise a close-knit group that shaped much of his career.
IPL 2026: Sanju Samson expressed his desire to leave Rajasthan Royals
The explanation that RR owner Manoj Badale offered in a video he released after the 2026 retention list shifted the mood completely, and his account pointed to a stronger personal reason behind the move. He said Sanju first mentioned the idea of leaving during a late-season meeting in Kolkata after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign that saw the side finish ninth, and the admission showed how much the slump had worn down the long-time captain.
Badale explained that the 31-year-old felt drained after the season and needed a new setting, and the owner added that he never treated the request lightly because the wicketkeeper had spent fourteen years giving every part of himself to the franchise. Moreover, Badale recalled how making him captain earlier in his career involved doubts of its own, but Sanju handled the position with full effort, mixing his batting presence with leadership that influenced the dressing room.
“The first time this year that Sanju Samson, or in the past year, talked about moving out 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 in the video.
He added, “When he made the request, it felt different for us. Because he is a very authentic man, and if he says something, he means it. He’d been an extraordinary servant of the franchise for 14 years. It’s just not the batting that the fans see, or the sixes; it’s everything he’s put into it. When we decided to make him captain, that was a high-risk decision. He was a young, inexperienced captain. He’s put everything into that role.”
In the end, the trade with CSK became a decision based on everything Sanju had given RR, and the update from the franchise finally made clear why one of the league’s most discussed moves happened.
