Rajasthan Royals (RR) will start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). RR’s opener at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium won’t be easy. Apart from being an away game against last year’s finalists, they’ll be without their captain, Sanju Samson.
Riyan Parag to make debut as RR captain
He’ll play as the impact substitute due to a finger injury. As he can’t keep wickets, he won’t take the field when bowling. Riyan Parag has been named captain in his place. Having finally blossomed last season, the all-rounder has been handed the leadership responsibility.
So far, the newly appointed IPL captains have done well. Both Ajinkya Rahane and Rajat Patidar starred with the bat in the IPL 2025 opener at the Eden Gardens. Parag would love to follow that trend.
Sanju Samson as impact sub
As for Samson, if RR bowls first, Nitish Rana will be slotted as Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s opening partner. But if they bat first, Samson would start and then be subbed out later. Parag would be slotted at number four as he was last year.
Dhruv Jurel would be the designated wicketkeeper since Samson won’t take the gloves. He’ll follow Parag, and since he’s been paid a hefty sum, Rs 14 crore, he’ll want to show his worth with the bat.
Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey will be the finishers. One can’t forget that Wanindu Hasaranga can be a handful with the bat as well.
4 bowlers & 1 all-rounder
The fact that RR has just a proper all-rounder, Hasaranga, means that they’ll have to field four proper bowlers. Maheesh Theekshana will be the spin partner for Hasaranga. Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma will be used in the powerplay overs and the death. The last player, Tushar Deshpande, will be used primarily in the middle overs, 7-15.
Predicted RR Playing XI vs SRH
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Nitish Rana
Riyan Parag (c)
Dhruv Jurel (wk)
Shimron Hetmyer
Shubham Dubey
Wanindu Hasaranga
Sandeep Sharma
Jofra Archer
Maheesh Theekshana
Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player: Sanju Samson
Bench: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Rathore, Yudhvir Singh, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma
