Sanju Samson Seeks Clearance to Resume Wicketkeeping Duties
Rajasthan Royals' captain, Sanju Samson, has reportedly flown from Guwahati to Bengaluru on Monday to seek full clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence, as he aims to resume his wicketkeeping duties. Samson has refrained from keeping wickets for the past three matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 following surgery on his right index finger.
Background and Current Status
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Samson received only a partial and temporary clearance to play in the IPL. This limited clearance restricted his involvement to a specialist batter and impact player role. Consequently, he relinquished the team leadership to Riyan Parag, who has been leading the team in his absence.
Seeking Full Clearance
Samson's visit to the Centre of Excellence signifies his intent to fully recover and resume all his on-field responsibilities. He will undergo comprehensive testing by the Sport Science wing at the facility. These tests are designed to assess his fitness and determine his readiness to return to wicketkeeping and leadership.
Anticipated Return
A source close to the team informed Cricbuzz that Samson is “expected to be back as skipper from the RR’s next match, which is nearly a week away.” Rajasthan Royals are scheduled to play the Punjab Kings on Saturday, April 3, 2025, in Chandigarh. This potential return would mark a significant boost for the team’s morale and tactical flexibility.
Samson’s Recent Performance
Despite not keeping wickets, Samson has contributed with the bat, registering scores of 66, 13, and 20 in the three matches he has played as an impact player. However, his absence behind the stumps has undeniably impacted the team’s dynamics.
Rajasthan Royals' Recent Performance
Rajasthan Royals have experienced a mixed start to their IPL 2025 campaign, suffering two consecutive defeats before securing a victory against Chennai Super Kings. The team’s batting performance has been noteworthy, particularly Nitish Rana’s impactful innings against Chennai, where he scored a rapid-fire 82 runs from just 42 deliveries alongside Samson. Rana's aggressive strokeplay, including well-timed flicks, pulls, and ramps, propelled the team to a competitive total.
Key Highlights:
- Samson’s Injury: Right index finger surgery necessitated the temporary absence from wicketkeeping duties.
- Leadership Change: Riyan Parag stepped in as captain during Samson’s absence.
- Assessment at CoE: Samson is undergoing testing at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
- Potential Return Date: Expected return as skipper and wicketkeeper within a week, potentially for the match against Punjab Kings.
- Batting Performance: Samson has contributed with scores of 66, 13, and 20.
- Nitish Rana’s Impactful Innings: Played a crucial role in the victory against Chennai Super Kings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the nature of Sanju Samson’s injury? Samson underwent surgery on his right index finger.
2. Why did he travel to Bengaluru? He traveled to the BCCI Centre of Excellence to undergo assessments and seek full clearance to resume wicketkeeping and leadership duties.
3. When is he expected to return to the team? He is anticipated to return for the match against Punjab Kings, approximately a week from now.
4. Who has been leading the team in his absence? Riyan Parag has been leading the Rajasthan Royals in Samson’s absence.