Sanju Samson’s Absence and Captaincy Conundrum Derail Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025
Introduction: The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have hit rocky terrain in their IPL 2025 campaign, grappling with inconsistencies and strategic missteps that threaten to derail their season. After a promising run in the past three years—qualifying for the playoffs twice and reaching the final in 2022—the Royals are struggling to find their footing this time around. At the heart of their woes lies the absence of their talismanic captain, Sanju Samson, and a bold but controversial captaincy experiment with young Riyan Parag.
The Blow of Samson’s Absence: The Royals’ season started on a sour note when Samson, a linchpin since joining the franchise in 2013, sustained a right index finger injury during a T20I against England in February 2025. This ruled him out of the first three matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings. After undergoing surgery and rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Samson returned as an ‘Impact Sub,’ cleared to bat but not to keep wickets or field. His limited role has visibly hampered RR’s balance, with the team winning just one of their opening fixtures.
Leadership Vacuum: Samson’s absence exposed a deeper issue—a lack of on-field leadership. With the regular captain sidelined, the Royals made a surprising call to appoint 23-year-old Riyan Parag as stand-in captain, overlooking star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Parag, who had a breakout IPL 2024 with 573 runs, was backed by the management for his domestic leadership credentials as Assam’s T20 captain, where he secured 10 wins in 17 matches between 2021 and 2023, boasting an average of 67.09 and a strike rate of 167.72. However, his stint with RR has been far from inspiring, managing just one win in four matches as captain this season.
Captaincy Controversy: The decision to bypass Jaiswal, retained for a staggering Rs 18 crore, has sparked heated debates among fans and pundits alike. Jaiswal, with 1367 runs in the last three IPL seasons at a strike rate of 153.02—including a whopping 625 runs in 2023—was seen by many as a natural choice for the role. Reports suggest even India head coach Gautam Gambhir views him as a future leadership candidate. Social media has been abuzz with criticism of RR’s choice, with accusations of ffavoritism levied against the franchise. Parag’s modest batting form, with 212 runs in eight outings at a strike rate of 148.25, has only fueled the discontent.
Further Setbacks: As if the leadership crisis wasn’t enough, Samson’s recovery has hit another bump. The franchise confirmed on Monday that he will miss the upcoming clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) due to an abdominal injury sustained during a match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. “We are monitoring his progress closely and will take a game-by-game approach regarding his return,” stated the RR management. With Samson sidelined, Parag will continue to lead, adding pressure to an already fragile setup.
Conclusion: The Rajasthan Royals stand at a crossroads in IPL 2025. Sanju Samson’s absence has not only disrupted their on-field balance but also exposed tactical and leadership frailties. The gamble on Riyan Parag as captain, while bold, has yet to pay dividends, leaving fans and analysts questioning the franchise’s direction. As they gear up to face RCB and beyond, RR must find answers quickly—will Samson’s return spark a revival, or has the captaincy conundrum already defined their season? Only time will tell, but for now, the Pink Army is in dire need of a game-changer.