Is Sanju Samson playing the RR vs GT IPL 2025 match?

With more than half of the league stage completed, the teams that are clearly lagging behind in the playoffs race have been identified. It remains a matter of just one game for the likes of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals before their elimination from the IPL 2025 playoffs contention is stamped. With only 2 wins across 9 matches, RR and CSK sit at the bottom of the points table, taking up the 9th and the 10th spot respectively. Meanwhile, as Rajasthan Royals look to pick their campaign up, their path further up has been marred by the extended absence of skipper Sanju Samson. As per the latest updates, the captain is set to miss the RR vs GT IPL 2025 match as well.

Sanju Samson ruled out of the RR vs GT IPL 2025 match

Sanju Samson played the first three matches of the season as an impact player, solely as a batter, while Riyan Parag captained Rajasthan Royals. Following a clearance from the NCA for his finger injury, Samson returned as the captain and took his wicket-keeping duties back from Dhruv Jurel. However, his participation was short-lived. The batsman sustained a side strain while in the chase of the LSG vs RR IPL 2025 match. Rajasthan Royals lost that match as the team failed to chase 12 runs off the last over. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson didn't travel with the team to Bengaluru for the RCB vs RR fixture as he tended to his injury.

Now, over a week from when Samson picked up the side injury, the captain is yet to fully recover. As Rajasthan Royals gear up to host Gujarat Titans at home, it is likely for Riyan Parag to continue in the leading position. In a season where the batting order has struggled, Sanju Samson was one of the few performers for the team. In 7 matches, the RR skipper hit 224 runs at a strike rate of 143.58. Now, as Samson continues his absence due to the injury, the onus falls on Yashasvi Jaiswal completely.

The middle-order with Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer has been rocky, with Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel consistently failing to finish off seemingly chaseable totals. Jaiswal, up the top, has been piling up runs to take the game close. The opener has smashed 356 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate past 148.00, emerging as the highest run-scorer for his team.

Gujarat Titans would come to Rajasthan Royals fairly charged up by their successful run in the season so far. With 6 wins in 8 matches, GT sits at the second spot on the IPL 2025 points table, dethroned recently by Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the table toppers. However, a win against Rajasthan Royals would prop them back up. Last they met, Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, beat Rajasthan Royals by a commanding margin of 58 runs. While Samson played a fighting knock of 41 off 28, it didn't prove enough in the mammoth chase requiring 218 runs. Now, while Samson is likely to sit out from the fixture, RR would hope to avenge their previous defeat in the season.

Where do Rajasthan Royals stand in IPL 2025?

While the going looks tough from here on, 5 wins from here would lift up the side fairly high. However, the RR management seems to have already moved on to the next season. On the eve of the RR vs GT IPL 2025 match, the assistant coach of the team, Shane Bond, accepted that they are out of the tournament. Even if RR manage to win all of their 5 matches from here on, a prediction too far-fetched, the team would get to 14 points.

RCB is already at 14, and a single win from here would bring GT to the same number. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians look well in form to claim another spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. 14 points in the ongoing season don't seem enough to keep any team in contention, essentially ruling out the possibility of CSK and RR making the cut. Shane Bond, meanwhile, talked about getting the squad ready for the next season, while ensuring a strong finish in the ongoing season.

"We're 2 (wins) and 7 (losses), and go, jeez, where we could sit on the table, but there's nothing we can do about that now. We're probably out of the tournament in terms of the points table, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot to play for. Obviously, as a team, we want to make sure we finish the season strong and continue playing well, but also for individuals there's a lot to play for, for the next season, wanting to stay with the franchise," the assistant coach said.