RR concerned over Samson's fitness as they look to reignite their campaign

Things haven’t gone according to plan for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. With just two wins from seven games, they find themselves in the lower half of the points table. Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, the top order has misfired, the bowling has lacked bite, and now, concerns over captain Sanju Samson’s fitness add to their woes ahead of a crucial clash against a resurgent Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Samson, who retired hurt in RR's previous game against Delhi Capitals due to abdominal pain, has undergone scans. Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed his availability will hinge on the medical reports. If unavailable, Riyan Parag is likely to step in as captain, having led the side in the opening fixtures while Samson recovered from a finger injury.

Replacing Samson in the XI, however, remains a challenge. Shubham Dubey has featured as an Impact Player but isn’t a natural top-order batter. Alternatives include promoting Parag, Nitish Rana, or Dhruv Jurel, or giving a debut to 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi—an unlikely but intriguing option.

Meanwhile, LSG, after a shaky start plagued by injuries to key bowlers, have bounced back impressively with four wins from seven. The return of speedster Mayank Yadav—who dazzled in IPL 2024 and recently rejoined after recovering from injuries—adds serious firepower to an already potent attack led by Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi.

LSG’s batting has also clicked, with Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh racking up 652 runs between them. Despite a recent loss to CSK, they look well-poised to push for the playoffs.

Team News

Rajasthan Royals (Probable):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (capt, wk) / Vaibhav Suryavanshi / Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande / Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya (Impact)

Lucknow Super Giants (Probable):
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi

Pitch & Conditions

Only one match has been played in Jaipur this season, where RR lost to RCB. The pitch was slightly two-paced but eased under lights. Dew could play a role, and while the day may be hot, conditions should be more manageable by match time.

Key Players to Watch

• Yashasvi Jaiswal: After a slow start, he’s hit form with three fifties in four innings. He has a strong record in Jaipur.

• Mayank Yadav: Set to make his season debut, the tearaway quick could be a game-changer for LSG’s playoff hopes.

Stats & Trivia

• Pooran needs 1 run to reach 9000 in T20s.

• Archer has dismissed Pooran 3 times in 7 T20 innings.

• Bishnoi has dismissed Hetmyer 3 times in 6 innings; Hetmyer averages 8 and strikes at 65 against him.

• RR boast the third-best powerplay run rate (9.69) but struggle in the middle overs (7.39).

Quote

“We’ve struggled a bit at the death. Our execution hasn’t been on point — we’re going for 72-77 runs instead of the acceptable 57-60.”
— Rahul Dravid, RR Head Coach

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