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Players who can captain Rajasthan Royals if Sanju Samson misses the first few IPL games

Players who can captain Rajasthan Royals if Sanju Samson misses the first few IPL games

With the news coming that Sanju Samson, who sustained a finger injury, could be out of action for nearly 5 to 6 weeks, what will happen if he misses the first few IPL games?

Indian wicketkeeper Sanju Samson had an underwhelming outing against England in the T20Is, and what made the series worse for him was an injury. The stylish wicketkeeper-batter sustained the injury when a delivery from Jofra Archer, his Rajasthan Royals teammate, struck his right index finger at nearly 150 kmph. Although he managed to bat for some time after the blow, it later came to light that he experienced swelling in the dugout. When medical scans were conducted, they confirmed that his finger was fractured. So, what’s next?

The big news is that he has returned to Thiruvananthapuram and will soon undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy before returning to the field. According to reports, Samson’s injury will require at least five to six weeks of recovery, which means he will miss Kerala’s Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Jammu and Kashmir, set to start on February 8. Given the recovery timeline of nearly six weeks, he may also miss a few games in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals.

Although nothing is confirmed yet, making speculations could be wrong. However, it is also a fact that Rajasthan Royals will likely have a backup plan in place to ensure leadership stability if Samson is unavailable.

So, who are those players who can captain RR if Sanju Samson misses the first few games of IPL 2025?

Take a look at few names who can lead RR if Sanju Samson is unable to play the initial games of IPL 2025.

Riyan Parag

Can Riyan Parag step into Samson’s shoes and lead the team? This youngster recently captained the Assam Ranji Trophy team, which highlights his leadership qualities and potential as a leader. Parag had a fantastic season with Rajasthan Royals last year, with many believing he has completely transformed as a player.

In the past, he had a reputation for talking more than scoring, but now his bat does all the talking. This was clearly evident in IPL 2024, where he scored 573 runs in 15 matches. Overall, he has played 70 IPL games, showcasing his massive experience. If RR decides to back Parag and make him captain for a few matches in IPL 2025, it may not be a bad move. Looking at the future, Parag could also be a strong candidate to lead RR in the upcoming editions.

Shimron Hetmyer

Speaking about this Caribbean batter, Shimron Hetmyer is also a strong candidate to take up the captaincy and lead the team from the front.

He already has notable experience as a leader. Not many know, but this Guyanese cricketer led the West Indies Under-19 team to victory in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He also captained the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2022 Caribbean Premier League, which means he is no stranger to the captaincy role.

Hetmyer is known for scoring big runs quickly, making him one of the most dangerous hitters in T20 cricket. With 62 T20I matches under his belt, he brings a wealth of experience that he could apply in this cash-rich league. Many would agree that he is also a team player, making him a strong option to lead RR.

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