Rajasthan Royals stirred excitement among fans ahead of their crucial match against Gujarat Titans by posting a video of captain Sanju Samson practicing wicketkeeping drills. The footage has fueled speculation about Samson’s potential return to the playing XI, either as a full-time keeper or as a specialist batter under the Impact Player rule.
Samson had suffered an abdominal injury during the match against Delhi Capitals, retiring hurt after scoring 31 runs. Subsequent medical tests confirmed a side strain, sidelining him for several games and casting doubt over his immediate availability.
Before the injury, Samson had been enjoying a strong season, amassing 224 runs from seven matches at an average of 37.33 and a strike rate of 140. Notably, at the start of the season, Samson featured only as a batter in Rajasthan Royals’ first three games due to a BCCI-imposed restriction on his wicketkeeping duties.
While the latest training footage shows him undergoing wicketkeeping drills, it remains uncertain whether Samson will immediately resume full-time keeping responsibilities. Thanks to the Impact Player rule, RR can opt to use him purely as a batter if needed, carefully managing his workload while benefiting from his batting prowess.
An official update on Samson’s exact role is awaited, but the signs are encouraging for the Royals as they head into a decisive phase of the tournament. RR, who have struggled in the 18th edition so far, currently sit ninth on the table with just two wins from nine matches.
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