Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), is doubtful for Saturday's IPL 2025 match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), as the franchise awaits scan findings on an injury to his side.
Samson retired hurt after scoring 31 off 19 balls in RR's last encounter against the Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, citing a potential side injury. The RR captain appeared to be in pain after attempting a cut shot off Vipraj Nigam, causing the physio to inspect the left side of his ribcage.
Despite facing the next delivery, Samson quickly walked off the field. The match ended in a tie, with RR ultimately losing in the Super Over.
"Sanju experienced a bit of pain in the abdominal area. So we have gone for scans. He has done some scans today, so we are waiting for the results of those scans. And then once we get a bit more clarity around the scans and the severity of the injury, we'll make a decision going forward, and we'll see what happens," head coach Rahul Dravid said in a pre-match press conference on Friday.
Samson began IPL 2025 despite recovering from a thumb injury, appearing just as a batter in the first three games. During that time, Riyan Parag served as captain and is expected to do so again if necessary.
Dravid admitted that RR needed to improve their ball-handling near the conclusion of the innings.
Rahul Dravid has firmly refuted any rumors of conflict between him and skipper Sanju Samson, calling recent conjecture "baseless" and stating that the team is still together.
A video clip from Wednesday's thriller at the Arun Jaitley Stadium went viral on social media, reigniting speculation about a rift. Dravid was seen huddled in discussion with support personnel and a few players moments before the Super Over against DC, as captured on video.
As the team deliberated which batters should take strikes against Mitchell Starc, a player motioned for Samson, who was seen near the dugout, to come in. The skipper, on the other hand, rebuffed the invitation with a casual hand motion and remained outside the group.
The image went viral online, with many seeing it as a symbol of estrangement. Some even claimed Samson's leadership was under threat, while others offered odd speculations linking him to a possible move to the Chennai Super Kings.
“I don't know where these reports are coming from. Sanju and I are on the same page. He's a very integral part of our team. He's involved in every decision and discussion. Sometimes, when you lose games and things don't go right, you face criticism, and we can take it on our performances, but we can't do anything about this baseless stuff.
The spirit of the team is really good; I'm impressed with how hard these guys work. One of the things people don't understand is how hurt the players feel when they don't perform,” Dravid stated.
RR will face Lucknow Super Giants in an important clash in IPL 2025 on Saturday, April 19, in Jaipur.
(IANS input)
