Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson is currently recovering from a side strain injury that forced him to retire hurt during the match against Delhi Capitals. The injury occurred when Samson attempted a cut shot off Vipraj Nigam and experienced discomfort on his left side, near the rib area.
After a brief assessment by the physio, he decided to leave the field and did not return to bat. Currently, he is in Jaipur undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the Royals’ medical team. Riyan Parag, who has taken over as stand-in captain, confirmed after the toss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru that Samson is recovering slowly and the team is monitoring his condition match-by-match.
Uncertain Return Timeline for the RR Captain
Head coach Rahul Dravid echoed a similar sentiment about the uncertainty surrounding Samson’s return. According to Dravid, the RR medical staff is evaluating Samson’s fitness daily. He explained that the decision was taken not to fly Samson to Bengaluru for the match, allowing him to continue treatment in Jaipur instead.
Dravid emphasized that there is no fixed timeline for Samson’s comeback and that the team would reassess the situation after the upcoming matches. With a few back-to-back fixtures followed by a short break, the Royals are hopeful of managing the injury carefully to avoid any aggravation.
Riyan Parag Steps Up as Interim Leader
In Samson’s absence, Riyan Parag has been captaining the side and earning praise for his leadership. Dravid noted that Parag has led the team in four matches and even managed captaincy duties in the early stages of the season when Samson was nursing a finger injury. Though the results haven’t always gone RR’s way, Parag’s composed demeanour and growing experience have been valuable assets.
Dravid reaffirmed that Sanju remains the official captain of Rajasthan Royals, while Parag is filling in as vice-captain during this temporary phase. The franchise remains optimistic about Samson’s recovery but is prepared to navigate the next few games without him if necessary.
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