Who Will Be Rajasthan Royals’ Captain in IPL 2026 Amid Trade Rumors Involving Sanju Samson?

Sanju Samson's 2025 IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals ended early due to injury, before 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi took his opening spot.

Who Will Be Rajasthan Royals’ Captain in IPL 2026 Amid Trade Rumors Involving Sanju Samson?

Sanju Samson's exit would mean Rajasthan Royals will have a new captain ahead of IPL 2026 (Image via Hindustan Times)

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It will be quite intriguing to see who becomes IPL side Rajasthan Royals’ next captain, with Sanju Samson now expected to make his way out of the team. Rumors are rife that the RR is currently (and strongly) pursuing a trade deal for the current captain, with Chennai Super Kings. 

The 2026 IPL retention deadline is only a few days away, and Rajasthan Royals has been one of the most-active franchises ahead of this deadline, given the recent changes. Following former Indian national team head-coach Rahul Dravid’s exit, Sri Lankan cricketing icon Kumar Sangakkara, who had held the role of RR’s Director of Cricket since 2021, has now been appointed as their new head coach. 

Making matters all the more interesting, RR owner Manoj Badale and the team management might be looking towards a major squad overhaul, after their poor 2025 performance, with captain Sanju Samson being the first player to make his way out. The 30-year-old, who has played for the Jaipur-based franchise since the 2018 IPL season (first stint was 2013-2015), and has captained them since 2021, finds his role reduced, both as a leader as well as an opener.

Samson’s dissatisfaction has made him ask for a move out of the franchise. He is highly likely to be traded to CSK in a high-profile multi-player swap deal, with Ravindra Jadeja set to move the other way. Sanju Samson captained Rajasthan Royals in a total of 67 matches, recorded 33 wins and 33 losses, while also having led the side to two play-offs finishes since 2021, including the IPL final in 2022.

His exit would leave a massive void in leadership, given RR has very few players who are as experienced as Samson. Two players have emerged as possible contenders to lead the side, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jasiwal. Both players were reportedly told to get ready for a leadership role by the RR staff as early as the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, Jurel seems to have an edge over the 23-year-old due to his dual role as a wicket-keeper as well as a lower-order finisher.

Quite interestingly, Riyan Parag, who led RR in Samson’s absence last season, has not emerged as one of the probable candidates. Parag’s leadership abilities remained ineffective, given he only led the team to two victories out of eight matches in 2025. 

Rajasthan Royals might shift home base from Jaipur to Guwahati for IPL 2026

Ahead of the 2026 IPL season, surprising news has emerged over a potential change of home venue for Rajasthan Royals. The Jaipur-based franchise, which has played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium since the inception of the tournament, could move to the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. 

Rajasthan Royals home venue
Rajasthan Royals’ home, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, in Jaipur (Image via NDTV Sports)

Over the past two seasons, Rajasthan Royals has been among the few teams to play its home matches at two venues, Jaipur and Guwahati. Despite the two cities being thousands of miles away from each other, the ACA Stadium in Guwahati has become a second home for RR, given the team is co-owned by Assamese Ranjit Barthakur, and also features one of the state’s foremost talents, Riyan Parag.

However, a complete change of home base remained out of discussion until RR and Rajasthan Cricket Association engaged in a feud this year. Then RCA ad hoc committee convener Jaideep Bihani made match-fixing allegations against the franchise, while also noting that the Royals’ management had not kept the committee in the loop while organising matches in Jaipur, providing more reason for the franchise to now shift its home base from the Sawai Mansingh.

Apart from Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are the two other teams who played their home matches at two different venues. While PBKS plays at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, DC played a few of its home games at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vizag.

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