Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is likely to miss the team’s upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Lucknow Super Giants due to a suspected side strain. According to head coach Rahul Dravid, the team is awaiting the results of medical scans to determine the extent of the injury. Samson experienced discomfort in his abdominal region during the Royals’ recent match against Delhi Capitals, where he scored a quick 31 runs before being forced to leave the field after appearing to hurt his side while attempting a cut shot.
Although he briefly returned to face another delivery, Samson eventually walked off in clear pain. In a post-match comment, he said he was not in a condition to return and would assess the injury the next day. Having already missed early matches in the season due to a thumb injury, Samson had recently resumed his captaincy and wicketkeeping duties after being cleared by the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
With Samson potentially sidelined, Riyan Parag, who led the side in earlier games, is expected to take over. Rajasthan Royals have been battling inconsistency throughout the season, sitting in the lower half of the points table. The team has also undergone changes in its lineup due to the departure of key players like Jos Buttler, Ashwin, and Chahal after the mega auction.
Dravid acknowledged the team’s struggles in the death overs, pointing out the high number of runs conceded in the final five overs of recent games. He stressed that while their strategies are solid, execution under pressure remains a key area of improvement. Regarding controversial decisions, such as picking Sandeep Sharma over Jofra Archer in the Super Over, Dravid stood by the choice, highlighting Sharma’s reliability and performance in tough match situations.
Despite challenges, Dravid remains optimistic, expressing confidence in the squad’s depth and the ability of the new spin duo, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, to perform on big stages.
