Sanju Samson’s IPL 2025 campaign has been a frustrating ride, marked by untimely injuries and missed opportunities. The Rajasthan Royals skipper, one of their most consistent performers over the years, was dealt a blow even before the season got going. A finger injury ruled him out of wicketkeeping duties for the first three matches, restricting him to play solely as a specialist batter via the Impact Substitute rule.

With Sanju Samson unavailable to lead on the field, the captaincy baton was temporarily handed to Riyan Parag, who tried his best to steer the side through a challenging phase. After sitting out a few more games, Samson slowly began his recovery and was recently spotted hitting the nets as the IPL remains on hold.

In a picture shared by the franchise, the 31-year-old is seen geared up in a full training kit, seemingly eager to return, despite the uncertain resumption date for the league. His body language reflected a mix of focus and frustration, perhaps knowing the season has slipped away from RR’s grasp.

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Upon regaining fitness, Samson did return to lead the Royals, only to be struck by misfortune again. Just four matches into his comeback, he re-injured the same finger during a match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This led to another temporary leadership stint for Parag, adding to the disruption in team stability.

The repeated leadership changes and lack of rhythm contributed significantly to the Rajasthan Royals’ early exit from the playoff race. With only three wins from twelve matches, RR has joined CSK and SRH on the list of teams officially out of contention.

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The Royals’ remaining fixtures — against Chennai Super Kings on May 12 and Punjab Kings on May 16 — remain in limbo, with clarity expected only after BCCI releases a revised schedule. While the upcoming games may be inconsequential in terms of standings, Samson would be keen to finish strong, especially with India’s upcoming multi-format series against Bangladesh on the horizon in August.