Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has rejoined the team after a long injury layoff.
He was sidelined for several matches, with Riyan Parag taking over as captain.
Samson struggled with fitness issues at the start of the tournament.
He played in the initial four matches but couldn’t captain the side.
Now that the tournament has resumed after a week’s break, Samson looks fit.
The break was caused by the India-Pakistan tension, which led to the
Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match being postponed.
Several overseas players have returned to their teams, while others are still expected to join.
Some players are unable to return due to international commitments.
Most Indian players have already rejoined their respective franchises.
Samson’s Return
The Rajasthan Royals shared a video on social media of Samson joining the team on Tuesday night.
The video shows him looking fit and ready for the challenge ahead.
He is seen displaying his biceps, possibly signaling that he’s back to full strength.
The tweet accompanying the video read, “Our Malluminati is back!”
Our Malluminati is back! ❧️🔥 pic.twitter.com/RNOdhYEIcl
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 14, 2025
Rajasthan Royals have been eliminated from the playoffs.
They won just three out of 12 matches, losing nine.
The team has had a tough season, losing several close matches.
They have two matches left, one against Punjab Kings and the other against Chennai Super Kings.
Impact on Other Teams
Despite being out of the playoffs, Rajasthan Royals can still cause trouble for other teams.
Punjab Kings, currently third in the table with 15 points from 11 matches,
face a tough challenge ahead if they lose to Rajasthan.
Their next matches are against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, both strong contenders.
The RR vs PBKS match is scheduled for May 18 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur,
starting at 3:30 PM with the toss at 3 PM.
A win for Rajasthan could complicate Punjab’s path to the playoffs.