IPL 2025: Injury concern for Sanju Samson! Who will captain Rajasthan Royals in first three games?
Xtra Time Web Desk: Rajasthan Royals Captain Sanju Samson has confirmed that he will not be able to lead the side in the first three games of IPL 2025. On March 20, Sanju has informed that Riyan Parag will step in as the stand-in captain for those three games.
Samson suffered an injury in his finger earlier this season during India's T20I series at home against England in February as he was hit on his fingers by a bouncer from England fast bowler Jofra Archer. He told that he has not fully recovered from the setback. However he also said that he will play those games as a pure batter. Samson is likely to play as an Impact Substitute until he is cleared for wicketkeeping duties.
"I am not completely fit for the next three games. There are lot of leaders in this group. In the last few years, some great people have taken care of this environment really nicely. For the next three games, Riyan will lead the team," Sanju Samson said.
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"He is capable of doing it. I expect everyone to support him and be with him," he added.
Samson joined the Rajasthan Royals camp in Jaipur on March 18 and reunited with newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid. However, RR took a big move ahead of this session by appointing Parag as stand by captain. When it comes to wicketkeeping duties, RR has Dhruv Jurel. Rajasthan showed a lot of faith in Dhruv considering his retention over England's Jos Buttler.
Batting coach VIkram Rathour said on Wednesday that Dhruv and Samson will share wicketkeeping duties for the franchise in the new season.
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It will be a big moment for Riyan Parag indeed. The batter scored 573 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of close to 150. It was the first time RIyan scored over 200 runs in an IPL season but it is also important to keep in mind that he is coming after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the T20I series agaisnt South Africa last year and England earlier this year.
All eyes will be on Riyan Parag how he comes out as a captain and performs his duties. Rajasthan Royals will start their campaign in Hyderabad on March 23. After that they will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and Chennai Super Kings on March 30 in their next two games in Guwahati.
