Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson has not travelled to Bengaluru for their crucial IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The reason behind his absence is an abdominal injury he suffered earlier this month during a game against Delhi Capitals. Since then, Samson has been unavailable for selection and also missed their previous match against Lucknow Super Giants.
RR head coach Rahul Dravid explained that the medical team advised against Samson flying, as the travel could worsen his condition. As a result, the team decided to keep him back in Jaipur with a physiotherapist to focus on recovery. Dravid shared that Samson has been monitored daily and the team is taking all necessary steps to ensure he heals properly. However, the timeline for his return remains uncertain.
Challenges for Rajasthan Royals
The injury has come at a difficult time for the team. Rajasthan Royals have lost their last four matches and currently sit in 8th place on the points table with just two wins from eight games. With Samson missing, the team has struggled to find the right balance. Even before sitting out completely, Samson had been playing only as a specialist batter in the early matches due to fitness concerns.
His absence has left a gap in both leadership and performance. In his place, young batter Riyan Parag has taken over the captaincy duties. Despite limited opportunities this season, Samson had managed to score 224 runs in seven matches with an average above 30 and a strike rate over 140, proving his importance to the squad.
Uncertain Return and Upcoming Fixtures
Dravid stated that there is no clear date for Samson’s return, and the team is taking a “wait and watch” approach. RR faces RCB in Bengaluru next, followed by home games in Jaipur against Gujarat Titans on April 28 and Mumbai Indians on May 1.
They then travel to Kolkata for a match on May 4, after which they get a nine-day break. Dravid hopes the break might allow Samson enough time to recover. In the meantime, RR needs to find form quickly if they wish to stay in the playoff race. With only six matches left, the team may need to win all of them to keep their hopes alive.
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