Late last evening, Rajasthan Royals dropped a bombshell—Sanju Samson will only play as a batter for the first three matches of IPL 2025. That means he won’t be wicketkeeping or leading the team. Instead, Riyan Parag will take over as captain.
Sanju, who has captained RR for the past few seasons, suffered a finger fracture during the fifth T20I against England earlier this year in Mumbai. Ironically, it was his Royals teammate, Jofra Archer, who bowled the bouncer that caused the injury.
Despite undergoing surgery and rehab at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Sanju is fit to bat but won’t take up wicketkeeping or captaincy duties for the first three matches. However, he has joined the RR camp in Jaipur and will be available to play from the start of the season.
Riyan Parag Leads the Royals
Rajasthan Royals have placed their faith in Riyan Parag as the interim captain. Parag, a key player in RR’s squad, had a breakout season in IPL 2024. He smashed 573 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 52.09 and a blistering strike rate of 149.21, finishing third in the Orange Cap race.
Apart from his stellar performance, RR’s decision to hand Parag the captaincy also aligns with their schedule. The Royals’ second and third matches will take place in Guwahati, Assam—Parag’s hometown and home ground. His leadership in familiar conditions could give RR an added advantage.
Wicketkeeping Dilemma Solved
With Sanju stepping back from wicketkeeping duties for the first three games, RR had to find a reliable replacement. Fortunately, they have a strong option in Dhruv Jurel, who has already kept wickets for the Indian Test team. Retained for ₹14 crore, Jurel is set to step in as the team’s primary wicketkeeper for these matches.
Rajasthan Royals’ Strongest Playing XI for IPL 2025
Top Order:
- Sanju Samson (Captain & Wicketkeeper after first three matches)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Nitish Rana
Middle Order:
- Riyan Parag (C)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Shubham Dubey
Bowling Attack:
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Sandeep Sharma
Impact Player Options:
Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yudhvir Singh
Stay tuned for more updates on Rajasthan Royals and IPL 2025.