Rajasthan Royals will have Riyan Parag leading the team in their IPL 2025 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad as Sanju Samson, the regular captain, has not been cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence for wicketkeeping. Samson will only be able to play as a batter or Impact Player until he is fully fit.
The Royals announced that Samson will continue to be a key contributor with the bat until he is cleared for wicketkeeping and fielding, at which point he will resume his role as captain. In the meantime, Parag will captain the team for the next two matches against Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.
Samson suffered a finger injury after being hit by a bouncer from Jofra Archer during India’s T20I series against England. He underwent surgery to repair the damaged finger and completed his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before rejoining the team for practice.
The Royals will be looking to start their IPL campaign on a positive note under Parag’s leadership, while they await Samson’s return as captain once he is fully fit. Fans can follow live updates of the SRH vs RR match on the official IPL website.
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