Sanju Samson IPL Team



Sanju Samson IPL Team [Source: @Samsoncentral/X.com]Sanju Samson IPL Team [Source: @Samsoncentral/X.com]

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Sanju Samson is one of the most under-rated wicket-keeper batters from India. Since making an international debut in 2015, he has been in and out of the team for the last decade solely because of the issues related to inconsistency and team composition.

Samson has been a great figure with many significant performances as a batter as well as a captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He entered the league with Rajasthan Royals (RR) back in 2013. Year after year, he has come out to be a reliable middle-order batter and an effective captain.

Though Samson made a switch to Delhi Capitals from 2016-17, the Keralite rejoined Rajasthan in 2018 and has since been the franchise’s strongest pillar. He led his team through multiple playoffs and thus set an unprecedented example as a leader.

Sanju Samson was retained by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for a whooping price for the IPL 2025 mega auction as the franchise honoured his loyalty and safeguarded the batter from the high-profile mega auction process.

Sanju Samson’s IPL Teams

Seasons
Teams
Salary
2012KKRINR 8 Lakh
2013RRINR 10 Lakh
2014-2015RRINR 4 Crore
2016-2017DCINR 4.2 Crore
2018-2021RRINR 8 Crore
2022-2024RRINR 14 Crore
2025RRINR 18 Crore

Teams Sanju Samson has played for in the IPL

Not many know this but Sanju Samson began his IPL journey with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2012. However, he never got a chance to play in any matches during his time with the team.

He, therefore, joined Rajasthan Royals in 2013, and immediately proved to be a vital player for the team. He became the youngest player to score an IPL half-century that season, establishing himself as a key player. He played for RR until 2015.

In 2016 and 2017, Delhi Daredevils signed the wicket-keeper batter. During his stint, he showcased his batting talent and even scored his maiden IPL century in 2017.

Samson returned to Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and has been a pillar of the team since. In 2021, he was appointed the captain of RR and has been leading the side with distinction, guiding them to the IPL finals in 2022.

For the IPL 2025 mega auction, RR retained Samson for INR 18 crore, thus safeguarding him from the auction pool.

Sanju Samson’s role in his IPL team

Sanju Samson is primarily an opener for Rajasthan Royals. He has amassed 4419 runs in 167 games with a 30.69 average and 138.96 strike rate, including 3 centuries. Apart from being an explosive opening batter, Samson is also a full-time wicket-keeper. He is sharp and his quick reflexes make him a threat behind the stumps.

In 2021, Samson was appointed the captain of RR, and he played a key role in forming strategies for the team. With his calm demeanour and tactical brilliance, he has successfully led the Royals to crucial victories, including their journey to the IPL finals in 2022. He is quite reliable because of his calm mind under pressure.

Sanju Samson’s impact on his IPL team

Sanju Samson’s impact on Rajasthan Royals extends both as a player and as a leader. Since 2018, he has been scoring 300+ runs every season. Moreover, the average runs and at times brisk strike rate have also assisted him in setting and chasing tough totals for the side.

As a wicket-keeper, Samson has greatly contributed to the team's defence, with sharp dismissals and athleticism behind the stumps that have complemented his batting heroics.

Taking over the captaincy in 2021, Samson has brought stability to the team. Under his leadership, the Royals reached the IPL finals in 2022 after a long gap. In 2024 as well, Rajasthan reached the playoffs and Samson had his career-best season as a batter with 531 runs in 15 games with a 48.27 average and a 153.47 strike rate.

Sanju Samson and IPL Auction

Sanju Samson and IPL Auction [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Sanju Samson and IPL Auction [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

IPL Auction history for Sanju Samson in IPL

Sanju Samson began his IPL journey with KKR after being picked at a base price of INR 8 lakh. However, he didn’t get an opportunity to showcase his skills in matches during his time with KKR.

In 2013, Rajasthan Royals bought Samson for INR 10 lakh, marking the beginning of his impactful journey with the franchise. He soon became a consistent performer and was declared Emerging Player of the Season in 2013.

His price went up to INR 4 crore from 2014-15 before he entered the auction again in 2016. Delhi Capitals bagged him for INR 4.2 crore in that year’s auction and Samson played two following seasons for the team.

In 2018, Samson returned to the Rajasthan Royals for a hefty salary of INR 8 crore in the mega auction. His good performances and increasing stature as a reliable middle-order batsman warranted the high price he commanded.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, Samson was retained by Rajasthan Royals as their first-choice player for a whopping INR 14 crore. His leadership qualities, batting brilliance, and value to the team were key factors in this decision.

Sanju Samson’s IPL 2025 auction status

For the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals once again honoured loyalty to retain Sanju Samson for a whooping price of INR 18 crore. He was the Royals’ first retention and played a key role in sketching a retention and auction plan for the team.

FAQs for Sanju Samson IPL Team

Q.1 In which IPL team is Sanju Samson?

Answer: Sanju Samson played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2025 season. He returned to the franchise in 2018 and has been the pillar of the team as a captain as well as an explosive wicket-keeper batter.

Q.2 When did Sanju Samson debut in IPL?

Answer: Sanju Samson made his IPL debut in April 14, 2013 for Rajasthan Royals at 18 years of age. He replaced RR’s regular wicket-keeper Dishant Yagnik who was recovering from an injury. However, Samson couldn’t score much runs on his debut. 

Q.3 Which team did Sanju Samson play for in the IPL 2012?

Answer: Sanju Samson was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, he didn’t get an opportunity to play any game that year.

Q.4 What is the highest score of Samson in IPL?

Answer: Sanju Samson’s highest score in IPL is 119 which he scored against Punjab Kings in IPL 2021. He slammed 119 off 63 balls with 12 fours and 7 sixes. However, Rajasthan Royals lost the game by four runs in a high-scoring thriller.

Q.5 How many centuries did Sanju Samson have in IPL?

Answer: Sanju Samson has a total of 3 centuries in IPL. He scored his maiden ton in 2017 and followed it up with another hundred in 2019. Samson’s last hundred came in 2021 against Punjab Kings, which was also his highest score (119) of IPL career.