"The Joy of Being a Captain" – Sanju Samson on Leading Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025

RR skipper excited for a fresh start with new talents, aims to build strong team camaraderie

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📍 Mumbai, March 15: As Rajasthan Royals (RR) gear up for IPL 2025, captain Sanju Samson expressed his excitement about leading a revamped squad, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and understanding the personalities behind performances.

RR will begin their IPL 2025 journey against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad, on March 23.

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🏏 A New Look Rajasthan Royals Squad

The Royals have undergone a significant squad transformation, bringing in new talents like Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and the youngest IPL player ever, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Meanwhile, big names like Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal were released ahead of the auction, marking a new era for the franchise.

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💬 Sanju Samson on Leadership and Team Bonding

Reflecting on the transition, Samson shared his thoughts on building a new squad and the challenge of integrating fresh faces.

📢 "In the last three seasons, we had the highest win percentage and some of our best players ever. It felt like a family, but as per IPL rules, you have to let go of that family and build a new one again. Now, we've brought in some interesting players, from a 13-year-old to a 35-year-old, creating a mix of youth and experience in the squad," Samson said on JioHotstar.

Despite the changes, RR’s recent track record has been strong, with a runner-up finish in 2022 and a playoff qualification last year.

📢 "Personally, I am very excited about this challenge—meeting new people, building relationships, and understanding the personalities behind the performances. That is where the real fun lies. The work begins long before the IPL, during the 7-10 days of preparation," he added.

Samson also highlighted the importance of off-field bonding in shaping the team’s success.

📢 "I try to spend as much time as possible outside my room, talking to my players and coaches, building that camaraderie. And then, we embark on the journey together as a unit. That's where the joy of being a captain comes in," he concluded.

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📋 Rajasthan Royals Squad for IPL 2025

🟢 Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi
🟢 Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore
🟢 Allrounders: Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, Yudhvir Singh
🟢 Spinners: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Kumar Kartikeya
🟢 Fast Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma

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🏆 Can RR Claim Their Second IPL Title?

With a new mix of experienced international stars and young Indian talents, Rajasthan Royals will aim to replicate their historic 2008 IPL-winning season and go all the way in IPL 2025.

As Samson and his team gear up for the challenge, all eyes will be on how well this fresh squad gels together on the field.