Islamabad, Mar 20 2025: Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as captain for their first three matches of IPL 2025, with Sanju Samson set to feature solely as a batter while recovering from injury.
The decision was announced by Samson during an informal team meeting, a video of which was shared on Rajasthan Royals’ social media.
He mentioned that while he was progressing well, he was not yet fully fit to take on full leadership responsibilities.
Samson suffered a right index finger injury during India’s T20I series against England. Though he underwent surgery and has been making steady progress, his ability to keep wickets remains a concern.
Reports indicate that while he has received partial clearance, he has yet to pass the required wicketkeeping fitness tests.
Despite Parag leading the team in the first three games, Samson will still represent Rajasthan Royals at the IPL captains’ meeting in Mumbai.
He is expected to undergo another fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after the third match before resuming his full role as captain and wicketkeeper.
The IPL 2025 season is set to begin on March 22, with Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens.
Rajasthan Royals will play their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
