Synopsis
Sanju Samson has rejoined the Rajasthan Royals squad after recovering from finger surgery. His return boosts the team's morale ahead of IPL 2025, but uncertainty remains about his immediate wicketkeeping role. Dhruv Jurel may fill in if needed, while Riyan Parag is fit for selection after recovering from injury.Key Takeaways
- Sanju Samson rejoins RR after surgery.
- His fitness for wicketkeeping remains uncertain.
- Dhruv Jurel may step in as wicketkeeper.
- Riyan Parag is fit for selection after injury.
- RR begins IPL 2025 against SRH on March 23.
Guwahati, March 17 (NationPress) Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson has rejoined the team prior to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season after successfully recovering from finger surgery.
Samson suffered an injury during India's T20I series against England in February, which sidelined him for the rest of the series and necessitated a surgical procedure.
Since then, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to achieve full fitness. His return to the RR squad is a significant uplift for the team, although there remains uncertainty regarding whether he will immediately resume wicketkeeping duties.
The Royals may need to evaluate his fitness before making a determination, and if he is not yet fit to assume the gloves, Dhruv Jurel might step in as the wicketkeeper for the opening matches.
Jurel, who was also part of India's recent T20I setup, had previously taken over for Samson in the fifth T20I against England after the RR captain was struck on the finger by a delivery from Jofra Archer. The young wicketkeeper-batter has displayed impressive form and is regarded as a vital backup for RR this season.
In other positive news for RR, Riyan Parag has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and is now available for selection. The all-rounder missed India's T20I matches against South Africa and England due to his injury but made a strong comeback in domestic cricket. He participated in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, where he played a key role for his team, scoring a first-innings half-century and bowling 26 overs against Saurashtra.
The Rajasthan Royals will commence their IPL 2025 journey with an away match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Following this, the team will host back-to-back matches at their secondary home venue, Guwahati, facing the Kolkata Knight Riders (March 26) and Chennai Super Kings (March 30) at Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
