Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson confirmed that he will not lead the team in their first three matches due to incomplete recovery from a finger injury sustained earlier this year.
Riyan Parag has been named as the stand-in captain, marking his debut as an IPL team skipper. While Samson will still play these matches as a specialist batter, wicketkeeping duties will be primarily handled by Dhruv Jurel. Rajasthan Royals retained Jurel over England’s Jos Buttler, showcasing their confidence in the young talent.
Samson suffered the injury during India’s T20I series against England in February when he was struck by a bouncer. After undergoing surgery and recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Samson rejoined the team but acknowledged that he was not yet fit enough to captain.
Riyan Parag’s captaincy debut is another milestone in his promising career. After a stellar IPL 2024 season, where he amassed 573 runs, Parag earned an India call-up and has since represented the country in T20Is and ODIs. However, he too enters the season following recovery from a shoulder injury.
Rajasthan Royals will kick off their campaign in Hyderabad on March 23, followed by games in Kolkata and Guwahati on March 26 and 30, respectively. Fans will be watching closely as the young leadership of Parag sets the tone for the team’s performance in IPL 2025.
