Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson suffered a fracture in his index finger during the T20I series against England. Ahead of IPL 2025, he has been granted permission to resume batting at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru (formerly known as NCA). However, there is still uncertainty over whether he will be able to keep wickets in the tournament.
According to a report by news agency PTI, the physios at the Centre of Excellence are satisfied with Samson’s ability to bat without any struggles, but they still want to closely monitor his comfort level while wicketkeeping. If he is not cleared to keep wickets, Dhruv Jurel is likely to take over the wicketkeeping duties for Rajasthan Royals. Jurel was retained by the franchise for ₹14 crore, and RR has no other wicketkeeper-batsman in their squad.
Sanju Samson Excited to Work with Rahul Dravid Again
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson is thrilled to work again with former India head coach Rahul Dravid, who also previously captained Rajasthan Royals. Samson recalled his debut under Dravid’s leadership and shared how the legendary batsman spotted his talent over a decade ago.
In an interview with Jio Hotstar, Samson said:
“It was Rahul sir who first noticed me during trials. He came up to me and said, ‘You can play for my team.’ From then to now, I have become the franchise captain, and he is returning. I am truly grateful for his comeback. I played under his leadership as a player when he was RR’s captain, and I also played for the Indian team under him as head coach. But the captain-coach relationship is always special, and I’m excited to learn from him.”
Samson further praised Dravid’s professionalism and dedication, highlighting his meticulous approach to coaching.
“He is a true professional who ensures everything is done perfectly. Last month, I was with him at the Rajasthan Royals Cricket Academy in Nagpur from 10 AM to 5 PM. Despite the heat, he stood there, watching batters and bowlers, interacting with players, and discussing strategies with coaches. He is always fully involved. I believe preparation plays a huge role in his character, and that’s something I need to learn more about.”
Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 Campaign
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 23 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), led by Pat Cummins, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Rajasthan Royals Squad for IPL 2025
Sanju Samson (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Dhruv Jurel.
