365telugu.com online news,16,August,2025:Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly making a strong push to sign Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper and India T20 opener Sanju Samson ahead of IPL 2026. According to Bengali media reports, KKR is prepared to include domestic youngsters Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep Singh in a potential trade package.
While both players are seen as long-term prospects, RR is said to be hesitant as their immediate focus is on strengthening pace options and stabilizing the lower middle order for the 2025 season.
Why Samson Fits KKR’s Plans
- KKR has been on the lookout for a dependable Indian wicketkeeper-batter to lead their top order.
- Samson’s inclusion could allow KKR to release an overseas opener — such as Quinton de Kock or Rahmanullah Gurbaz — thereby freeing up a valuable foreign player slot.
The Trade Equation
- Samson currently carries a retainer value of ₹18 crore, underlining his stature in Indian cricket.
- Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep together account for about ₹7 crore (₹3 crore and ₹4 crore respectively).
- To match Samson’s valuation, KKR may need to sweeten the deal with an additional cash component.