Just before the IPL 2025 season, the Rajasthan Royals got some bad news. The 18th edition starts on March 22 with Kolkata Knight Riders playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RR plays Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, but Sanju Samson won’t be captain for the first three games. He’s still recovering from a finger injury, so Riyan Parag will be captain instead.
The team said Samson isn’t cleared to be wicket-keeper or field yet. But he will still play as a batter.
Sanju Samson is a big part of the Royals. He will still bat until he can keep wicket and field again. He will be captain when he’s better, the team said.
Samson joined the team recently after finger surgery. He hurt himself during India’s T20I series against England in February, which meant he needed surgery and couldn’t play the rest of the series.
RR’s choice to make Riyan captain shows they trust him since he’s captained Assam’s domestic team. He knows the Royals well, so he’s ready to be captain for now.
RR will play their first two home games at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati against Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings on March 26 and March 30. After that, they’ll play at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur for the rest of their home games.
The Royals won the first IPL in 2008. Last year, they finished third but lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
