Sanju Samson removed as Rajasthan Royals' captain right before BCCI meeting with IPL 2025 captains

In a recent development, Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson is likely to play only as a batter in a few matches of the much-awaited IPL 2025. The Rajasthan Royals management and head coach Rahul Dravid have backed a young all-rounder to lead the team in his absence.

Sanju Samson suffered a finger injury while batting during India's fifth and final T20I against England in early February. The injury prevented him from keeping wickets in that match. The right-handed batter underwent surgery and recently completed his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Sanju Samson to Miss Captaincy for Rajasthan Royals' First Three IPL 2025 Matches

According to sports journalist Kushan Sarkar, Sanju Samson will not captain Rajasthan Royals in their first three matches of IPL 2025. He has yet to receive clearance to resume wicketkeeping from the Centre of Excellence. Sarkar stated that Riyan Parag will lead the team in his absence.

"Update from previous tweet Some #IPL Breaking News Sanju Samson will not captain in first three games for @rajasthanroyals as he hasn't been cleared to keep wickets by COE. Riyan Parag to lead the side. @IamSanjuSamson likely to play as Impact Player till he can keep wickets. He will only bat," Kushan Sarkar wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Update from previous tweet
Some #IPL Breaking News
Sanju Samson will not captain in first three games for @rajasthanroyals as he hasn't been cleared to keep wickets by COE. Riyan Parag to lead the side. @IamSanjuSamson likely to play as Impact Player till he can keep wickets. He…

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) March 20, 2025

💪 Update: Sanju will be playing our first three games as a batter, with Riyan stepping up to lead the boys in these matches! 💗 pic.twitter.com/FyHTmBp1F5

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 20, 2025

Sanju Samson to Captain Rajasthan Royals for Fifth Consecutive Season

Sanju Samson is set to captain Rajasthan Royals for the fifth consecutive IPL season. He first took over the role in 2021, but the team finished seventh that year.

RR reached the IPL 2022 final but lost to Gujarat Titans (GT). They failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2023, and they were eliminated in Qualifier 2 by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 season.

Samson has led the Royals in 61 matches, recording 31 wins, 29 losses, and one no result. The Kerala-born cricketer has played 167 matches, amassing 4,419 runs at an average of 30.68, including 25 fifties and three centuries. He will aim to deliver a strong performance in the 2025 season.

RR to Face SRH in their IPL 2025 Opener on March 23 in Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. After suffering a loss in Qualifier 2 last season, RR will aim to secure victory and end their trophy drought this year.

Riyan Parag was one of the six players retained by Rajasthan Royals. The 23-year-old scored 573 runs in 15 matches and played a key role in RR’s playoff run in 2024. Following his performances, the franchise retained him for ₹14 crore.

Rahul Dravid has rejoined the franchise as head coach. The former India captain, who played for RR in 2012 and 2013 before serving as team director and mentor, returns after nearly a decade. Dravid concluded his stint as India’s head coach on a high note with the 2024 T20 World Cup victory.

Also read: IPL 2025: BCCI suddenly introduces a massive new rule; IPL captains still unaware