‘Emotionally exhausted’: RR owner explains real reason behind Sanju Samson trade | Cricket News

Sanju Samson’s long association with the Rajasthan Royals has officially come to an end, marking one of the most high-profile trades in IPL history. After over a decade with the franchise and leading them to the IPL 2022 final, the wicketkeeper-batsman is set to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Royals and CSK have agreed a swap deal that sends Samson to the five-time champions, while RR receives Ravindra Jadeja And Sam Curran in return. Samson joins CSK with a contract worth INR 18 crore. Jadeja joins RR for INR 14 crores, and Curran makes the switch for INR 2.40 crores. Following the announcement of retention lists for the new season, Royals owner Manoj Badale explained how the situation unfolded and why Samson ultimately chose to part ways with the franchise. Samson had an interrupted IPL 2025 campaign due to injury, which led to Riyan Parag step in as captain during his absence. Rumors also swirled about a possible fallout with the head coach. Rahul Dravidbut Dravid publicly rejected these claims. Anyway, Dravid and Samson will not be a part of RR in the future. Badale revealed that Samson had been mentally exhausted during the difficult season and spoke candidly about his future during a chat in Kolkata. “The first time Sanju mentioned the possibility of moving on was towards the end of the season in Kolkata. We spoke after a match and he was emotionally exhausted. It was our toughest season in 18 years, and it affected him deeply because he really cares about RR,” Badale said in a video shared by the franchise. Badale added that Samson felt the need to close one chapter and start another after dedicating nearly 14 years to the Royals, with only a brief break in between. “He’s a real talker, and when he asked, it had a different weight to it. He’s contributed way more than what the fans see on the field – not just the runs or the big hits – but everything he’s put into the team,” Badale noted.“We follow structure, not chaos” When Rahul Dravid resigned as head coach earlier this year, speculation grew that the franchise was in turmoil. Badale rejected these claims, insisting that RR was operating with a clear roadmap. “Despite what has been said, there has been no sense of chaos within the team. Internally, we have followed an established process and schedule. Yes, we are a week or two late, but everything is stable,” he explained. Badale added that Samson’s stature naturally sparked interest from several teams once the possibility of a trade arose. “We had a group that evaluated every proposal that came to us. My job was to guide the discussions, not make the final decisions,” he said. Over 11 seasons with the Royals, Samson accumulated 4,027 points. His best year came in 2024, when he scored 531 points, cementing his status as one of the franchise’s most influential players.