Sanju Samson and Rajasthan Royals have dominated the trade talk in the IPL of late. Will the player – skipper too – continue with the franchise, whether the Royals will trade him with another player or release him into the action are not straightforward questions. The situation here is layered – there are rules, perspectives and, above all, the crossroads of whether a franchise can hold on to a player who no longer wishes to stay.
There are facts, and then there are complexities. To begin with, it is a fact that serious differences have cropped up between Sanju Samson and the Royals management – so much so that the designated captain has formally requested to be traded or released into the auction.
Members of Samson’s family openly say that he no longer wishes to continue with the Royals. Some current IPL and international players close to him also indicate that his relationship with the franchise has not exactly been the way it used to be.
But then, there are rules – and foremost among them is that it cannot be the player’s choice. Once a player is signed – whether through retention or auction – he is contractually bound to the franchise for three years. The decision to trade or release him rests solely with the franchise. Technically, contractually and legally, Samson has committed to the Royals for the duration of the current cycle, which runs until the end of the 2027 season.
