Sanju Samson’s journey in IPL 2025 has been a mix of grit, responsibility, and a few harsh realities. The Rajasthan Royals skipper, despite a rocky start due to injury, has slowly begun to make his presence felt — both as a leader and with the bat. After sitting out as captain for the first three matches due to a finger injury, Samson returned in full capacity against Punjab Kings and immediately made an impact. His 38-run knock off 26 balls and smart leadership helped the Royals secure a much-needed win.
However, that return to form was quickly overshadowed by a 58-run drubbing against the Gujarat Titans. In a steep chase of 218, Samson stood tall with a fluent 41 off 28 balls but didn’t find enough support from the rest of the batting lineup. Rajasthan folded for 159, raising serious questions about their middle-order stability and overall team momentum.
With just two wins in five games, RR currently find themselves seventh on the points table. A clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru looms large on Sunday, April 13, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur — a match that could define their campaign trajectory.
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But even before the first ball is bowled, off-field tension has started brewing. As Samson entered Agarwal College in Jaipur for a promotional event, chants of “Sanju Samson haye haye” echoed from a section of fans outside — a sharp contrast to the love he usually receives. It was a rare moment of public backlash, possibly born out of frustration with the team’s inconsistent performance so far.
No way they chanted “Sanju Samson, haaye haaye” 😭pic.twitter.com/Dg0fOVVxhl
— Pushkar (@Musafirr_hu_yar) April 12, 2025
Despite the team’s struggles, Samson has been the standout performer. With 178 runs in five games at an average of 35.6, he leads Rajasthan’s batting charts. If the Royals are to make a serious push for the playoffs, Samson will need to continue carrying that load.
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Historically, RR and RCB have had closely fought battles. In 32 IPL meetings, Rajasthan has 14 wins to Bengaluru’s 15, with three matches ending in no result. As these two sides gear up for another chapter in their rivalry, all eyes will be on Samson — the leader, the batter, and now, the man with a point to prove.
