📢 Breaking News: Rajasthan Royals (RR) have announced that Riyan Parag will captain the team for their first three games in IPL 2025, as regular skipper Sanju Samson continues his recovery from a finger injury. Samson, who underwent surgery last month, will play as a batter but won’t take up wicketkeeping or fielding duties until fully fit.
Sanju Samson’s Injury Update
Sanju Samson, one of the most crucial players for Rajasthan Royals, suffered a finger injury during the England T20I series. Following surgery and rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he joined the RR squad on Monday. However, doctors have advised him to avoid wicketkeeping for at least the first three matches.
With Samson playing solely as a batter, the team management is considering Dhruv Jurel as the primary wicketkeeping option. Jurel had earlier replaced Samson in India’s fifth T20I against England after the RR captain sustained the injury from a Jofra Archer delivery.
🗣️ Samson’s Statement:
“I’m not completely fit for the first three or more games. But our team has strong leaders who can handle things well. For now, Riyan Parag will take charge, and I trust the team to support him fully.”
Riyan Parag: Youngest IPL Captain in 2025
Taking over the captaincy for the first three matches, Riyan Parag will become the fifth-youngest captain in IPL history. Having been a key member of the RR squad since 2019, the franchise retained him for INR 14 crore ahead of the mega auction.
Why Riyan Parag?
Parag had an outstanding IPL 2024, scoring 573 runs, making him RR’s highest run-scorer and third overall in the tournament. His consistent performance, including four half-centuries, also earned him a place in India’s T20I and ODI squads.
🏏 RR’s Official Statement:
“Rajasthan Royals’ decision to hand Riyan the captaincy underscores the franchise’s confidence in his leadership. His experience as Assam’s domestic captain makes him well-equipped to step into this role.”
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Riyan Parag’s Captaincy Record
Before this, Parag had led Assam in domestic T20s, securing 10 wins in 17 matches between 2021 and 2023. His performance was remarkable, averaging 67.09 and striking at 167.72. This experience will be valuable as he leads RR in high-pressure IPL matches.
Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 Fixtures Under Parag’s Leadership
📅 March 23 – vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Away)
📅 March 26 – vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Home – Guwahati)
📅 March 30 – vs Chennai Super Kings (Home – Guwahati)
Sanju Samson is expected to return as captain after these three games, provided he gets medical clearance for wicketkeeping duties.
What This Means for Rajasthan Royals
✔️ New leadership opportunity – Riyan Parag gets a chance to prove himself as a leader.
✔️ Balanced squad rotation – Samson can focus on his batting while Jurel keeps wickets.
✔️ Strong middle order – With Parag, Samson, and Jurel, RR maintains depth in batting.
Conclusion
With Riyan Parag at the helm, Rajasthan Royals aim to maintain a strong start in IPL 2025, ensuring that Samson can recover without rushing his return. RR fans will be excited to see how Parag manages the team in crucial opening games.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates on IPL 2025! 🏏🔥
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