Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid provided an update on the injury of captain Sanju Samson ahead of the IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The former Indian skipper stated that Samson was not cleared to travel for the upcoming match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Rajasthan Royals will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 42nd match of IPL 2025 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, April 24. Sanju Samson is still recovering from an abdominal injury he sustained during the match against Delhi Capitals (DC). Riyan Parag will continue to captain RR in his absence.
Our Medical Team Didn’t Clear Sanju Samson to Play – Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid said that the medical team did not clear Sanju Samson for travel, and it was advised not to risk further strain by taking him on additional flights. Dravid added that the team kept the physio with Samson to aid his recovery, and his progress is being monitored daily.
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“Sanju, I think, picked up a bit of a side issue in the game against Delhi (Capitals) and he couldn’t play the last match or this one either. He wasn’t fit, and our medical team didn’t clear him to play,” Dravid told the press in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
“So, we took the medical advice not to risk him with further travel-two more flights would’ve been a strain. We kept the physio back with him so we could treat him and try to get him back as quickly as possible. We’re monitoring his recovery on a day-to-day basis,” he added.
Don’t Have a Specific Timeline for His Return – Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid said that there is no set timeline for Sanju Samson’s return, and the team is doing everything possible to aid his recovery. Dravid stated that the team has a tight schedule.
I don’t have a specific timeline for his return, but we’re doing everything we can. We’ve got matches coming up quickly, and then a gap after the 4th. So, we’ll just have to wait and see. As of now, he wasn’t fit for this match, and that’s why he didn’t travel to Bengaluru,” Dravid added.
Sanju Samson Faces Challenging Season with Rajasthan Royals
Sanju Samson has had a challenging season with the Rajasthan Royals as he has been battling injuries. He only played as a specialist batter in the first three matches and has missed two. Samson has scored 224 runs with an average above 30 and a strike rate of over 140.
His absence has been a blow for a team still searching for the right combination. Rajasthan Royals are currently struggling in IPL 2025. They are in 8th place after losing four consecutive matches. With just two wins from eight games, their chances of making the playoffs are slim.
They will need to win all of their remaining matches to stay in contention. After the match against RCB, they will return to Jaipur for home games against Gujarat Titans (28 April) and Mumbai Indians (1 May). They’ll travel to Kolkata before a nine-day break.
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