Anticipation is building ahead of the upcoming IPL auction as significant player trade talks are reportedly nearing completion. Sanju Samson is widely expected to leave Rajasthan Royals, leading to advanced negotiations between RR and Delhi Capitals (DC) for a potential player exchange.
Sources indicate that Delhi Capitals are eager to sign Samson, but they are reluctant to part with any of their core players. While KL Rahul’s name emerged in early discussions as a possible trade option, DC was unwilling to release a player who was a key batting performer last season and holds considerable brand value.
Rajasthan Royals have expressed interest in acquiring Tristan Stubbs. However, they reportedly requested an additional uncapped player along with the South African wicketkeeper-batsman, a request that Delhi Capitals did not accept. Despite this, there remains a strong possibility that Samson will return to play for DC in the next Indian Premier League season.
In the preceding months, Rajasthan Royals also engaged in discussions with other franchises regarding Samson. It has been confirmed that they approached Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with the idea of swapping Samson for Ravindra Jadeja. However, these talks did not progress beyond initial interest. At this juncture, a direct trade involving Sanju Samson moving to DC and Tristan Stubbs to RR appears to be the most likely outcome, provided no unexpected complications arise.
KKR’s Pursuit of KL Rahul
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are intensifying their efforts to secure KL Rahul. The franchise is reportedly desperate to bring in a captain and a strong top-order batsman to bolster their squad. The well-known rapport between KKR’s new head coach, Abhishek Nayar, and Rahul, coupled with the management’s keen interest, underscores their determination.
The main challenge for KKR lies in identifying a suitable player to trade for Rahul. As of now, KKR does not appear to possess a tradable asset that would sufficiently entice the Delhi Capitals. Although there have been whispers about Andre Russell’s name being considered, Delhi Capitals are focused on investing in younger talent that can contribute over several years. Key players like Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy are considered invaluable assets, making their release highly improbable.
Given Venkatesh Iyer’s underwhelming performance last season, he is unlikely to attract significant trade interest and may find himself back in the auction pool. Releasing Iyer could provide KKR with the necessary funds to aggressively bid for a player like Cameron Green. The situation surrounding KL Rahul remains fluid, and if the proposed DC-RR trade for Samson materializes, KKR might pursue Rahul with even greater urgency and a revised strategy.