Samson's absence, captaincy gamble haunt Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2025 campaign

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals ’ IPL-2025 campaign has been turbulent so far, marked by inconsistencies and missteps. In the previous three seasons, the Royals upped their game and managed to qualify for the playoffs twice, including playing the final in 2022.

This time, they have struggled to replicate that success. For one, they started the season on a wrong note. The absence of regular captain Sanju Samson for the first three matches due to a right index finger injury, sustained during a T20I against England in Feb 2025, was an early blow from which the franchise is yet to recover.

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Samson, a cornerstone of the Royals’ setup since 2013, underwent surgery and rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Although cleared to bat, he was not permitted to keep wickets or field, reducing him to an ‘Impact Sub’ for the opening fixtures against SRH, KKR and CSK.

Samson’s absence as a leader on the field exposed vulnerabilities in the team’s dynamics. The decision to appoint 23-year-old Riyan Parag as stand-in captain sparked significant debate. Riyan, who had a breakout IPL-2024 season with 573 runs, was chosen over star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal , despite the latter’s rising stature in international cricket.

The decision to bypass Jaiswal for the captaincy role ignited widespread discussion. Jaiswal, retained for Rs 18 cr, has been a consistent performer for the Royals, amassing 1367 runs in the last three IPL seasons at a strike rate of 153.02, including 625 runs in 2023. There were reports India head coach Gautam Gambhir too views Jaiswal as a potential leadership candidate.

The Royals management justified the move by citing Parag’s leadership experience as Assam’s domestic captain, where he led the side to 10 wins in 17 T20 matches between 2021 and 2023, averaging 67.09 with a strike rate of 167.72. The team’s official explanation was that “the decision to hand Riyan the captaincy underscores the franchise’s confidence in his leadership, a skill he has demonstrated through his tenure as Assam’s domestic captain”.

However, Riyan’s stint as RR captain has been underwhelming and has drawn criticism. The 23-year-old has led the Royals to only one win in four IPL matches as captain this season. Social media sentiment too has been harsh, with fans accusing the franchise of ‘favouritism’. Riyan’s batting contributions too have been modest, with 212 runs so far in eight outings at a strike rate of 148.25.

There is no doubt Samson’s absence as captain has exposed leadership and tactical frailties in the team. The captaincy gamble may now define their campaign. Samson being monitored, to miss RCB game Samson will miss the team’s upcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as he continues his recovery process, the franchise announced on Monday.

“The team management is monitoring his progress closely and will take a game-by-game approach regarding his return to action,” the franchise said. Samson suffered an abdominal injury during the match against Delhi Capitals last Wednesday at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Riyan Parag will continue to lead the side