Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid has addressed the rumours around rift with captain Sanju Samson ahead of their IPL 2025 clash against Lucknow Super Giants. Dravid has refuted all the chatter on discord within the RR camp team in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. In an effort to quell the growing speculation, Rahul Dravid explicitly stated that he maintains a harmonious working relationship with the team's captain, Sanju Samson, labeling the circulating rumors as entirely 'baseless.'
Rahul Dravid's strong take on rumours around rift with Sanju Samson
Breaking his silence on the increasing chatter regarding potential friction within RR camp, the team's head coach made a clear statement. Rahul Dravid firmly asserted that there is no misunderstanding or conflict between him and the captain, emphasizing that the entire team remains united and focused on their collective goals for the current IPL campaign.
“I don't know where these reports are coming from. Sanju and I are on the same page,” said Dravid in a pre-match press conference.
“He's a very integral part of our team. He's involved in each and every decision and discussion. Sometimes, when you lose games and things don't go right, you face criticism and we can take it on our performances, but we can't do anything about this baseless stuff. The spirit of the team is really good, I'm impressed with how hard these guys work. One of the things people don't understand is how hurt the players feel when they don't perform,” he added.
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The speculation regarding potential tension between Sanju Samson and Rahul Dravid originated from captain's behavior during the Super Over against Delhi Capitals.
As the Super Over unfolded, RR' players congregated around Rahul Dravid, who was engaged in conversation with them in the dugout. While Samson was initially present with the group, he abruptly turned and walked away with a visibly dejected expression. Subsequently, when a teammate appeared to inquire about his demeanor, based on the visual cues, Samson offered a direct refusal, seemingly indicating his disinterest.
RR captain further distanced himself by standing slightly apart from the group, signaling that he was not inclined to listen to the head coach's address. Following the circulation of this video clip, numerous individuals speculated that Samson was dissatisfied with Dravid, leading to concerns that there might be underlying issues in the relationship between the coach and the captain.
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Rajasthan Royals are currently gearing up for their upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 in Jaipur. Having secured only two wins out of their seven matches played so far in the ongoing IPL 2025, RR are positioned in eighth place on the points table. Adding to their woes, they are entering this fixture on the heels of a particularly disappointing Super Over defeat against Delhi Capitals in their most recent game.
On top of it, Samson is also doubtful for RR's match against LSG amidst his injury concerns. RR will be hoping for his recovery for the crucial clash against LSG.