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Sanju Samson will be playing as a batter in the first three games of IPL 2025

Riyan Parag named RR Captain for their first three games in IPL 2025

Sanju Samson will be playing as a batter in the first three games of IPL 2025 (Credits: IPL/X)

In a massive development, Riyan Parag has been named the Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain for their first three games in the upcoming 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Rajasthan Royals have confirmed that their regular skipper Sanju Samson will be playing the opening three games as a specialist batter because he is still not fully fit. The Rajasthan Royals will be starting off their IPL 2025 campaign on 23 March, 2025 in an afternoon fixture scheduled against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set to be hosted at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. 

Riyan Parag announced as Rajasthan Royals captain at the start of IPL 2025

Apart from their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Rajasthan Royals will be facing the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in their second game of the Indian Premier League 2025 season on 26 March, 2025 scheduled to be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. On the other hand, the 2008 IPL winners will be taking on the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in their third fixture on 30 March, 2025. 

"Sanju Samson will remain a key contributor with the bat till he gets cleared for wicket-keeping and fielding. He will return as captain once fully fit," stated an official release by the Rajasthan Royals. 

Incidentally, Sanju Samson sustained a finger injury while batting during the fifth and final T20I match against England during the home series earlier this year and he did not take the field in the second innings with Dhruv Jurel being named the substitute wicket-keeper. He also missed a few Ranji Trophy fixtures for Kerala due to the same injury. However, the latest update is that Sanju is very much likely to play as an impact player in the first three matches for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 as he is still not fully fit to take field and keep wickets. 

It has also been learnt that Samson will return as the Rajasthan Royals captain once he is fully fit. This means that young Dhruv Jurel who was retained by RR at a massive price of INR 14 Crore, will be taking over as the wicket-keeper in their first three games of IPL 2025. While talking Sanju Samson stats in the IPL 2024, the explosive right-handed batter smashed an impressive tally of 531 runs from as many as 16 matches at a fine strike-rate of over 153 which included a total of five half-centuries. Under his captaincy, the Rajasthan Royals finished at the third spot during the previous edition of the IPL after having lost the Qualifier 2 at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

On the other hand, it is a massive opportunity for someone like Riyan Parag to be appointed as the Rajasthan Royals captain for their first three games in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2025 season. Although, he does not any experience of leading an IPL franchise, but the 23-year-old all-rounder has captained Assam across the three formats of the game in the Indian domestic circuit. Parag had a breakthough IPL season last year for the Rajasthan Royals having smashed an exceptional total of 573 runs in 16 games at a brilliant strike-rate of close to 150 that consisted of as many as four half-centuries. After this smashing IPL season, he also earned his maiden India call-up both in ODIs and T20Is. 

After a sensational start to their Indian Premier League journey, where the Rajasthan Royals were crowned as first-ever IPL champions when they defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2008 finals, things have not turned out really well for them in the last 16 years. RR also played the finals in IPL 2022 but ended up suffering a convincing defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans (GT). However, Rajasthan Royals have a great opportunity to give their best shot and perhaps even win the IPL 2025 season as they have some really talented players in their line-up who have the ability to win game on a consistent basis both with the bat and ball. 

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