If I had strength, I would have changed the rules of releasing players

Prior to IPL 2025 season, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson said that it was the most difficult for me to let his close friend wicketkeeper-batsman Jose Butler go.

If I had the power to change any rules in the IPL, I would never let the players be released. Rajasthan Royals retained Samson, Ryan Parag, Dhruv Jurlel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer before the IPL mega auction. He had no place to maintain Butler. Butler will now play for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season, which will start from 22 March.

Sanju Samson said that the IPL gives you an opportunity to lead a team and play at a higher level, but the league also gives you an opportunity to make close friends. Butler is my close friend and we have played together for seven years. We knew each other very well and were always in touch. He was like an elder brother for me. Butler has made my role even bigger in leading the team. It was the biggest challenge for me to release it. If I could change one thing in the IPL, the first thing I will change is the rule to release players.