With Sanju Samson’s potential transfer to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) nearing completion, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) are preparing for a major leadership shift ahead of IPL 2026. Reports suggest that wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have emerged as the frontrunners to take over the captaincy role, as the franchise looks to usher in a new era under head coach Kumar Sangakkara.

According to The Times of India, Jurel holds a slight edge over Jaiswal due to his multi-dimensional skill set and on-field intelligence. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper, a homegrown RR talent, has impressed both with the bat and behind the stumps. His ability to read the game closely from behind the wickets and his calm temperament have reportedly made him the preferred choice among RR management.

In IPL 2025, Jurel enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring 333 runs at an average of 37 and a strike rate of 156.34, cementing his place in the Royals’ middle order. Retained for ₹14 crore, Jurel’s consistent performances and strong rapport with Sangakkara have further boosted his captaincy credentials.

Jurel vs Jaiswal: Rajasthan Royals Face Tough Choice for New Captain Ahead of IPL 2026

Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, remains a strong contender. The young Indian opener, who has been one of RR’s top performers in recent seasons, brings aggression and flair at the top of the order. However, with the introduction of the Impact Player rule, RR might prefer keeping Jaiswal’s workload lighter by focusing solely on his batting duties.

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Meanwhile, reports indicate that Sanju Samson’s trade to CSK could involve Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran moving to Rajasthan in what could be one of the most significant deals in IPL history. Samson, who led RR in 67 matches since 2021, guided them to the IPL 2022 final and consistently delivered with the bat.

As the retention deadline approaches, the Royals’ management is expected to finalize their next skipper soon. With the franchise undergoing major structural changes, including the exit of CEO Jake Lush McCrum and a possible venue shift from Jaipur to Guwahati, all eyes are now on who will carry the Royals’ legacy forward. At present, Dhruv Jurel appears to be leading the race, with Yashasvi Jaiswal not far behind.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline, Chennai Super Kings reportedly contemplate a major trade involving Ravindra Jadeja and Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson. However, CSK's former star Suresh Raina issued a stern warning for his former team as he asked them not to let Jadeja leave the franchise at any cost.

Reports suggest that Jadeja’s future with CSK has been uncertain for some time. According to sources, the franchise is exploring a player swap deal that could see Jadeja and one of Sam Curran or Matheesha Pathirana move to Rajasthan in exchange for Sanju Samson. Samson, who has captained the Royals since 2021, is being viewed as a potential long-term successor to MS Dhoni behind the stumps once the veteran retires.

The proposed trade has elicited mixed feelings amongst fans and analysts alike. Jadeja, who joined CSK in 2011, has been a very important cog in multiple title wins, thanks to his match-winning performances with bat and ball. His long-standing connection with MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina has made him one of the most loved figures in the franchise’s history.

Raina Backs Jadeja and Lists Key Players CSK Must Retain

Speaking to JioStar ahead of the retention deadline, Suresh Raina said Jadeja is irreplaceable and must remain with the team. “Noor Ahmad should be retained. He’s a mystery spinner, so he must be kept. MS Dhoni should definitely be retained; he is playing this year, so he should remain with the team. Ruturaj Gaikwad should continue as captain. Ravindra Jadeja should be retained again. He is a gun player for CSK. He has done really, really well for the team over the years, so ‘Sir Ravindra Jadeja’ has to be there,” Raina stated.

Watch the video here

Noor Ahmad 👀
Devon Conway 🤔
Ravindra Jadeja ❓

After a tough season last year, @ImRaina takes on the ‘Hold or Fold’ challenge featuring #CSK players! Find out who makes the cut! 🤨

WATCH TATA IPL 2026 Retention Special 👉🏻 SAT, 15th NOV, 5 PM on Star Sports Network &… pic.twitter.com/zPSdANemav

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 9, 2025

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The former vice-captain also suggested releasing a few players to refresh the squad ahead of the mini-auction. He said, “Devon Conway should be released. CSK need a local opener, which they will look for in the mini-auction. Vijay Shankar has already received plenty of chances, so I think CSK should release him as well. Deepak Hooda should be released too. There are a lot of players available in the mini-auction who can provide the same combination for the team. These players got their chances last year, and we saw how they played. So, probably CSK will have to look for someone new.”

The IPL trade of Ravindra Jadeja for Sanju Samson that was once considered impossible has now progressed to the stage of serious negotiations. As per the reports available from Cricbuzz, both the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have gone so far as to hold discussions regarding what one day could be the most remarkable player swap in the history of the IPL.

Both ₹18 crore players are significant parts of their teams and franchises, Jadeja, as the all-rounder powerhouse of CSK, and Samson, as the captain who motivates the team of RR. However, reports indicate that the bargaining process is not an easy one. Sources claim that the Rajasthan Royals do not want to simply trade one player for the other and are demanding that another player from CSK be included in the negotiations, they are totally afraid of giving up their position, so that has very much contributed to the delay.

RR want Brevis in Jadeja–Samson trade, but CSK not agreeing yet

It seems that RR’s desire to have South African superstar Dewald Brevis in their team is what is causing the delay in the deal. The young player was transferred to CSK during the season's mid-point and gradually became one of the greatest prospects in the world cricket scenario. His firework-like batting displays coupled with an ever-increasing recognition witnessed him gaining a colossal bid from Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 auction held earlier in the year. However, CSK that identifies Brevis as a core player of their future, is not ready to trade him off, and thus is very clear that the player will not be included in any deal.

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Confidential sources additionally disclose that Manoj Badale, the lead owner of RR based in the UK, is already in Mumbai and is personally taking charge of the negotiations. On the other hand, CSK has already interacted with Jadeja prior to commencing talks, which is an indicator of the level of respect they provide to the experienced player.

At the moment, the decision is up to the Rajasthan Royals. Chennai Super Kings consider giving up Jadeja, one of the best all-rounders in the world, a big concession already and are not prepared to include any more players in the deal. 

Curiously, Rajasthan Royals have also contacted other franchises such as Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Sunrisers, however, are reportedly not interested as they already have a strong batting core consisting of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen. For the time being, the question remains whether Rajasthan Royals will lower their expectations or if the trade, despite all the excitement around it, will turn out to be one that nearly occurred.

Two selection committees and two teams- the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has found itself in tatters in the current situation. Due to the miscommunication among the management, the bank account has also been frozen. More than a lakh rupees have been paid out to the cricketers and the support staff, along with the ticket booking facilities.

Due to their issue among themselves, the authorities kept changing continuously, and this led to the bank accounts getting frozen. On November 06, on the third floor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) academy at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, a meeting was going on of Kabir Kumawat’s newly built selection committee.

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At the same time, in a different room on the same floor, another selection committee was formed, which was meeting with its members. On November 05, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) announced two teams for the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 games, while on the following day, they declared two sides for the U-23 ODI team. Out of those, there are 12 players common to both sides, while four new players have been included in two different sides.

Rajasthan Cricket Association’s situation ruined with two selection committees and frozen accounts

A few days ago, the Rajasthan Cricket Council initiated an official inquiry against Deendayal Kumawat, who is the convener of the ad-hoc committee of the association, following the allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of authority. The investigation, led by Sunil Bhati, secretary of the Sports Council, will focus on the misconduct of the players.

The probe was triggered after four committee members- Pinkesh Jain, Mohit Yadav, Ashish Tiwari, and Dhananjay Singh Khinvsar. They filed a complaint with the Sports Minister and officials of the Cooperative Department. The allegations were made on the player selection, hotel bookings, and kit purchases.

Deendayal terms the allegations baseless and politically motivated. It claimed that he was being targeted for exposing an alleged INR 9 crore scam within the sports council. The internal rift has deepened over the past few weeks in the RCA.

The IPL trade window has never been easy, a mixture of clever swaps, sentiment, and sometimes just some bad mistakes. If reports of Delhi Capitals (DC) potentially trading Tristan Stubbs to Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Sanju Samson are true, it seems like yet another risky move which could catch up with them at some stage.

A Times of India report has cited both franchises are nearing a deal and, according to reports, Samson is also very clear he will be leaving RR. The trade does indicate an excitement about the prospect of adding another brand-name player with leadership experience and elite opening-player capabilities, but sending Stubbs away would probably unravel much of the great work DC put in over the past two seasons.

The following outlines three reasons it would actually be a mistake for DC to trade Stubbs.

1. Samson's overall appeal shouldn't barb a generational talent

There is no doubt about Samson's appeal; he is a proven performer in the IPL, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, and an experienced leader--three things DC has not found consistency in. On the surface, Heath fits several of the franchise's needs at once.

The risk of that stability may be too high. Stubbs has been one of DC's most consistent performers since his arrival in the setup. In multiple formats, he has proven himself a worthy middle - order anchor, a death-hitting weapon and a reliable fielder. His adaptability, ability to accelerate, and balance make him a rare luxury in modern T20 cricket.

Stubbs is more than a finisher, he has now grown into a complete package. Trading him would leave DC open in areas they have been trying to strengthen for two full seasons.

2. DC would lose Stubbs’ prime after investing in his development

Delhi Capitals made a bold choice to pick up Tristan Stubbs from the 2024 auction for a mere ₹50 lakh. That enterprise paid paid dividends of ₹50 lakh for 378 runs at 54 average and nearly 191 strike rate in his first season. He followed it up with a brisk season in IPL 2025, with over 300 runs at a strike rate over 150.

Stubbs' consistent development shows DC's faith and development in him. He is 25 years old and at the start of the window where batters become consistent, powerful, and more mature in their game. To let him go just when he is primed for an explosion from your investments, is to let someone else reap the benefits of those long-term investments.

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In summary, Stubbs is the exact kind of player that every modern T20 franchise hopes to build their aspirations around, explosive, calm, and still growing.

3. DC's middle order could collapse without Stubbs

DC cannot afford to lose depth in the middle order – it’s been their most vulnerable area for two seasons now – but Stubbs has been the adhesive keeping that group together.

His partnerships with Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel in 2024 were bright spots in an otherwise up and down batting order. When Stubbs was pushed up the order in 2025, he transitioned seamlessly and showed his flexibility.

Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk are set at the top – and with KL Rahul likely back to opening, DC’s middle order is already looking shallow. If Stubbs isn't there, they are losing the only or most reliable bridge from the top order to finishers.

Sameer Rizvi and Karun Nair still haven’t proven they can play at that level, and it’s unlikely DC will find a like-for-like replacement for Stubbs at the mini auction.

Overall, should Sanju Samson be part of the deal, it would add greater depth to the top order and leadership group of Delhi Capitals, but it would cost them Tristan Stubbs, which could come back to jeopardize the whole batting order entirely. Stubbs is not just a guy who performs; he’s a guy who is on the verge of a breakthrough, he’s a player you want to build a franchise around, not trade away. 

If this trade goes through, DC may have just handed RR even more depth to their middle order, and that would be a mistake that DC may not live down for seasons.

Endless speculations and claims on Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. It is now widely discussed that Sanju Samson can leave the franchise. Samson was the captain of the team in the previous season as well, and he was the face of the team. His possible departure can prove very costly for the team in the near future. If he really switches to another IPL franchise, then who will be the captain of RR?

Weeks before, there were rumors that Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the man in the leadership role. There is no secret that Jaiswal himself wants to boost up his career, and a captaincy role can work as a positive catalyst. Though, as of now, there is no official confirmation from the franchise. Now, some latest reports suggest that not Jaiswal, but Riyan Parag is poised to be the captain of Rajasthan Royals in place of Sanju Samson for IPL 2026.

There are enough valid points and possibilities behind this claim, as Parag acted as the stand-in skipper whenever Samson was out of the action due to injuries in the IPL 2025 campaign. Like Sanju, Riyan has been with the franchise for a long time and understands the mentality of the club. From the 2019 season of the Indian Premier League, the Assam-born is with the team from the 'Pink City.'

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Riyan Parag to become the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026!

In 84 matches, the middle-order batter has scored 1566 runs at an average of 26.10. He is only 23, with a lot of room to grow in the future. Without any doubt, Parag has all the potential to be the central character of the Rajasthan Royals.

In the recent past, the batter showed some brilliant batting for the India A team as well against the Australia A team, scoring three half-centuries in three matches. Considering his recent performances and potential, Parag deserves a bigger role to show his mettle. 

The preparations for IPL 2026 are in full swing, and all ten teams are busy building their squads for the next season. Reports say the BCCI has set November 15 as the deadline for player retentions.

Right now, the trade window is still open, and according to recent reports, three teams Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are showing strong interest in Ishan Kishan, who is currently with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The left-hander was bought by SRH for ₹11.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. A report from The Times of India mentioned that MI want to bring Ishan back, while KKR and RR are also keeping a close eye on him.

Why is Ishan Kishan in high demand?

Ishan is one of the most sought-after players because he can keep wickets and open the batting a combination many teams want. In the 2025 season, he scored 354 runs in 13 innings with an average of 35.40, proving his worth as a consistent performer. Every team wants a player who can give quick starts at the top.

Last season, Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton opened the innings for MI. But with Rohit turning 39 next year, the team is looking for a young Indian opener for the future. Rickelton has done well, but having someone like Ishan as a backup or long-term option makes perfect sense for MI.

The Rajasthan Royals may face a big change in their lineup, as reports suggest Sanju Samson might leave the team. If that happens, RR will need a quality Indian batter who can also take up wicketkeeping duties. Ishan fits that role perfectly and can add strength to their top order.

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The Kolkata Knight Riders are facing problems at the top of the order. Their current openers, Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, haven’t been in good form and also take up two overseas player spots. Signing Ishan would solve both issues he can open the innings and also free up an overseas slot for the team.

Kolkata Knight Rider's (KKR) interest in Sanju Samson was a heavily discussed topic a few days before, which may have slowed down gradually. It was learned that for Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals (RR) wished to trade multiple star players of KKR ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026).

Now, in a fresh claim on a social media platform, it is revealed against which KKR players RR was in the attempt to release Sanju Samson. According to reports, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were on the Rajasthan Royals' wishlist, which KKR perhaps did not agree to settle down with.

If the reports are to be believed, it makes sense why the multi-time IPL-winning franchise did not want to trade Samson for Varun or Sunil. It is further stated that the Rajasthan-based franchise is trying to bolster their spin bowling department; that's why they wanted to secure the services of those two prolific spinners. 

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KKR to release Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of IPL 2026?

After a season with Punjab Kings, Chakravarthy joined KKR during the IPL 2020-21 season. Since then, the spinner has been with the Purple Brigade, and over the years of hard work, he established himself as one of the most effective spinners in the limited-overs cricket. Last season, when KKR as a team struggled to perform on the field, Varun claimed 17 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 7.66. He was successful against the Rajasthan Royals as well. 

If we now talk about Sunil Narine, he is one of the pillars of the KKR team. Since the 2012 edition of the IPL, he has been associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Outside India, the West Indian spinner contributed to other Knight Riders franchises as well. At the age of 37, it is unlikely to see Narine leaving KKR for another IPL franchise. 

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) uncapped Indian bowler spiced up the Jammu and Kashmir vs Mumbai Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Elite Group D match on Thursday at the Sher-I-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar. The emerging pacer picked up 5 wickets against the mighty Mumbai cricket team. In the last season too, the Jammu-born pacer bowled impressively against Mumbai. 

In the ongoing match between J&K and Mumbai, RR pacer Yudhvir Singh picked up 5 wickets to halt the star-studded team on 386. Singh first restricted the blossoming partnership between Ayush Mhatre (28) and Ajinkya Rahane (27). He first dismissed Mhatre and then trapped Rahane. In 74 runs, Mumbai lost 3 wickets, and J&K bowlers were looking under control.

Like Siddhesh Lad (116), Shams Mulani was also on his way to register a hundred, but he had missed the opportunity for only nine runs. Singh helped J&K to get rid of the promising all-rounder through LBW. His fourth prey were Tanush Kotian and Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur. Kotian was dismissed for 28, and Thakur went back to the hut with a duck. In his 25-over spell, the RR pacer bagged 5 wickets for 96 runs and 5 maiden overs. It was Yudhvir’s second fifer in first-class cricket.

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Impressive bowling display ahead of IPL 2026

His best bowling figure came against Services in the previous season, which is 5/17. During the last campaign, when Jammu and Kashmir locked horns against the record 42-time Ranji champions Mumbai, the talented pacer was impressive. Across two formats in that match, the right-handed bowler claimed a total of seven wickets. Proving most of the equations wrong, J&K defeated Mumbai in that game, where Yudhvir emerged as one of the heroes for his team. at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in BKC.

Ahead of IPL 2026, the bowler's performance is significant for Rajasthan Royals as they are set to shuffle their squad to fetch a better result in the upcoming season. In IPL 2025, the pacer got 4 wickets in 4 matches with an expensive economy rate of 11.90. 

A mystery spinner from Punjab spotted during the trail of Mumbai Indians. Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, the multi-time IPL-winning franchise has started their preparations. To acquire some fresh talents, they have initiated a trial process. During a trial session, a spinner from Punjab named Shubham Rana was spotted. The Mumbai Indians are famously known for their eye for bringing up raw talents. As they picked Rana for the trials, that means the bowler has serious potential. 

Who is Shubham Rana? 

Shubham Rana is an emerging, talented spinner who has already made his mark in the domestic cricket circuit. He is a Chinaman bowler, a rare kind of bowler in cricket. Kuldeep Yadav is a famous Chinaman spinner. Rana is known for his tight bowling, delivering lethal googly and pace variations. He has played in various age group tournaments with notable success. 

There are many videos on social media platforms, from which we can see some glimpses of Rana's bowling skills. The googly he delivers often takes sharp turns to out-perform the batters. He often likes to take risks by offering extra flights to force batters to get out of their shell. There are many instances when a batter misjudged the pace of Rana's delivery. Rajasthan Royals utilized him as the net bowler for the last couple of seasons but did not intend to bet on him during the auction. 

Chinaman spinner from Punjab Shubham Rana has been called for MI trialspic.twitter.com/Ye8D2NBusc

— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) October 14, 2025

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Rana performed brilliantly during this year’s Cooch Behar Trophy by claiming 33 wickets at 17.12 runs apiece in 11 outings. During the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2024, the upcoming spinner, who can take wickets at crucial times of a match, took 18 wickets at an average of 11.44 and a strike rate of 16.44, with an economy rate of 4.17, in six matches.

Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025

In the IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians finished their campaign in the 4th spot of the points table. They started the season with back-to-back defeats, but they proved their mettle soon. They bounced back and qualified for the round of four. In 14 matches, the former IPL champion team got 16 points as they won 8 matches and suffered 6 defeats.