Sanju Samson, who underwent finger surgery last month, has joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad on Monday. He had been undergoing rehab at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. It remains uncertain whether Samson will keep wickets immediately. Dhruv Jurel could step in as the wicketkeeper if Samson is not fit to take up the gloves.
Jurel had previously kept wicket for India in the fifth T20I against England in February. He replaced Samson, who was injured after being hit on the finger by a Jofra Archer delivery while batting.
Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and is set to feature for RR. His injury had ruled him out of the T20Is against South Africa and England. However, he made a successful comeback during the second phase of the Ranji Trophy. Parag impressed with a first-innings half-century and bowled 26 overs against Saurashtra.
RR’s IPL 2025 campaign begins with an away fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 23. They will then play back-to-back home games in Guwahati, facing Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and Chennai Super Kings on March 30.
Samson’s availability and Parag’s return provide RR with a significant boost as they prepare for a crucial start to the season. The team management will closely monitor Samson’s fitness to decide his role in the opening games. Jurel remains a dependable option behind the stumps if Samson takes more time to regain full fitness.
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