Riyan Parag will be seen leading Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the first three matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 which is set to start from March 22. RR's regular captain Sanju Samson will not be leading the team or fulfilling his wicketkeeping duties for the first three matches of the tournament due to injury concerns.
Samson underwent finger surgery last month, a consequence of being struck by a Jofra Archer delivery during the India-England T20I series. Following his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he rejoined the RR camp and participated in their initial practice session in Jaipur on March 18.
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Despite his return to training, Samson has not received clearance to resume wicketkeeping.
The BCCI's medical and sports science teams have authorised him to bat, but they have recommended a more extended period of rest for his fingers to ensure complete recovery.
Despite the restrictions on his wicketkeeping and captaincy, Sanju Samson's participation in the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) batting lineup is assured, albeit in a specialised role. The 30-year-old will feature as an Impact Player, a strategic substitution allowed under IPL regulations. This rule permits teams to designate five substitute players alongside their starting XI. During the match, the captain can introduce any one of these substitutes to replace a member of the starting XI at designated intervals: the beginning of an innings, the end of an over, the fall of a wicket, or a batter's retirement.
Sanju Samson has been a cornerstone of the RR's batting order for many years. Since joining the franchise in 2013 (with a brief stint at the Delhi Capitals in 2016 and 2017), he has amassed an impressive 3,742 runs in 140 matches, solidifying his importance to the team's batting prowess.
Why Yashasvi Jaiswal wasn't considered as RR captain?
Prior to the official announcement, there was speculation that Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young Indian opener, might be entrusted with the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) captaincy should Sanju Samson's injury concerns persist. This potential move was considered a bold gamble, reflecting Jaiswal's rising stature in Indian cricket.
However, the RR franchise has opted for another promising young player, Riyan Parag, to lead the team in the first three matches of the IPL 2025 season. Parag will captain the side against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26, and Chennai Super Kings on March 30. At 23 years old will become one of the youngest captains in IPL history, following in the footsteps of Virat Kohli. The RR management, in their official release, stated:
"Rajasthan Royals' 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. Having been a crucial member of the Royals' set-up over the years, his understanding of the team's dynamic makes him well-equipped to step into this role for the initial phase of the tournament,” RR's statement read.
Meanwhile, Samson also echoed franchise's sentiment and said there are lot of leaders in this group but Riyan will lead the team for the next three games.
"I am not completely fit for the next three games. There are lot of leaders in this group. In the last few years, some great people have taken care of this environment really nicely. For the next three games, Riyan will lead the team. He is capable of doing it. I expect everyone to support him and be with him," Samson said.