NEW DELHI: Will KL Rahul turn up for yet another new franchise in IPL 2026? Rumors surrounding Rahul’s IPL future have intensified, suggesting that after making his debut for Delhi Capitals last season, the star batsman could be traded to Rajasthan Royals.

In return, Delhi are reportedly eyeing Sanju Samson – who, interestingly, began his IPL journey with the franchise years ago.

Rahul added fuel to the fire with a cryptic response when asked about his frequent team switches in the IPL during an appearance on the 2 Sloggers podcast. So far, the stylish batsman has represented five different franchises in the league – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

The host even drew parallels between Rahul’s IPL journey and that of former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch, who holds the record for playing for the most teams (nine) in the tournament’s history.

“I am also not too far,” said Rahul, in response to the query.

The 33-year-old was picked up by Delhi Capitals for a hefty Rs 14 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction after being released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Though he went on to enjoy one of his best seasons with the bat, amassing 539 runs in 13 matches, Rahul’s recent remarks have reignited speculation about a potential move away from the franchise.

In contrast, Samson had a stop-start campaign plagued by injuries, managing to play only nine matches. He accumulated 285 runs at an average of 35, with just one half-century to his name. Samson is currently among the league’s highest-paid players, drawing a salary of Rs 18 crore.