Sanju Samson Doubtful for RR vs LSG Clash; Injury Scare Adds to Royals’ Woes

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is a doubtful starter for the team’s upcoming IPL 2025 clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, following an injury to his side sustained during the match against Delhi Capitals.

Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed on Friday that Samson had experienced pain in his abdominal area and was undergoing scans to determine the extent of the injury.

“Sanju experienced a bit of pain in the abdominal area,” Dravid said. “He has done some scans today, so we are waiting for the results. Once we get more clarity on the severity, we’ll take a call on the next steps.”

Samson retired hurt after scoring a quickfire 31 off 19 balls against Delhi Capitals. The injury appeared to occur after he attempted a cut shot off debutant Vipraj Nigam. Following an assessment by the physio, Samson tried to continue but walked off the field soon after. Rajasthan Royals eventually tied the match and lost in the Super Over.

Speaking post-match, Samson tried to downplay the issue. “It feels alright,” he said. “I was just not ready to come back and bat. We’ll observe it tomorrow and see how it is.”

Injury Troubles Piling Up

Samson had only recently returned to full fitness after undergoing finger surgery. He started the season as an Impact Player, featuring solely as a batter in the first three games. During that period, Riyan Parag led the side and is expected to take over captaincy again if Samson is unavailable. Dhruv Jurel, who kept wickets in Samson’s absence, would also return to the role.

Rajasthan Royals’ form has been patchy. They are currently eighth on the points table, having lost three of their last four games. Under Parag’s earlier leadership, RR lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders but managed a bounce-back win over Chennai Super Kings.

Dravid Backs New-Look RR Squad

Dravid addressed the challenges of rebuilding the team following the mega auction, which saw RR lose stalwarts like Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Despite these changes, Dravid expressed confidence in the current squad, especially the new spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

“Our Sri Lankan spinners are well-established internationally. Sometimes the team's display can be inconsistent, but we’re putting in the effort. We believe this is a good team.”

He also credited the new opening partnership of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Samson, highlighting their positive starts at the top, although acknowledging Samson's injury as a setback.

Death Bowling Remains a Concern

One of the major concerns for RR this season has been their death bowling. Dravid admitted the team has been leaking runs in the final overs, conceding 72 and 77 runs in the last five overs in their previous two matches.

“We’ve suffered with our death bowling. The plans are solid, but the execution needs to improve. Even a 57-60 run finish is now considered normal — but we’re often going for 70-plus. That’s where we need to tighten things.”

Dravid on Super Over Decision

The RR head coach also took full responsibility for the much-debated decision to use Sandeep Sharma over Jofra Archer in the Super Over against Delhi.

“The decisions are made by me in consultation with Sanju and the rest of the coaching and analytics team. We trust Sandeep. He’s bowled the tough overs and we believed he was the right option for those conditions.”

As RR await scan results for their skipper, all eyes will be on whether Samson can recover in time for Saturday’s crucial fixture. A continued absence could further impact an already faltering campaign for the 2008 champions.