It looks like Sanju Samson and Tristan Stubbs might be on the move in what could be the first big trade before the IPL 2026 auction. Reports suggest that both the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are close to sealing the deal. Samson has decided it's time to part ways with the Royals, and the two franchises have been in ongoing discussions to nail down the right exchange. DC is eager to add Samson to their lineup, but they've made it clear that their key players are off the table. At one point, KL Rahul was mentioned as a potential part of the trade, but DC wasn't willing to let go of one of their most reliable and valuable players. Meanwhile, RR is excited about the prospect of bringing Stubbs on board but has asked for another uncapped player to join him. Unfortunately, that request didn’t sit well with Delhi. If everything goes according to plan, we might see Samson donning DC colors again next season, marking a return to the franchise where he started his journey. Interestingly, RR also reached out to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) earlier about a potential trade involving Ravindra Jadeja, but those talks didn’t get very far, leaving the DC-RR trade as the most promising option right now. Also Read | Watch Alyssa Healy drops easy catch, gives life to Jemimah Rodrigues KKR Keen on KL Rahul for Captaincy Role On another note, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are keeping a close eye on KL Rahul's situation. They’re looking to bring in a seasoned captain and a strong top-order batsman ahead of the upcoming season. Head coach Abhishek Nayar has a good relationship with Rahul, and KKR management is reportedly keen to make this happen. However, pulling off a trade could be challenging since KKR currently doesn’t have a player who would genuinely pique DC’s interest. Andre Russell has been mentioned in conversations, but DC is focused on building a younger team for the future. Players like Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy are considered untouchable, and Venkatesh Iyer’s struggles last season make him an unlikely candidate for a trade.