In a dramatic turn of events during the IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, captain Sanju Samson was forced to retire hurt due to rib pain on Wednesday, April 16, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This incident occurred during the Royals' run-chase, specifically in the sixth over, leaving fans anxious about his fitness ahead of upcoming matches.
Samson, who had been performing well, scored 31 runs off 19 balls, including two fours and three sixes, before his unfortunate exit. The discomfort began when he attempted a shot against Varun Nigam, missing the third delivery of the over, which was a no-ball. Following the shot, Samson appeared visibly in pain, prompting the physio to come onto the field for an assessment.
Despite spending some time with the physio, Samson was unable to continue and made the decision to leave the field. His retirement came as a significant blow to the Royals, who had started the innings strongly with Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease. After his departure, Riyan Parag took over batting duties but could only manage 8 runs off 11 balls before being bowled out by Delhi captain Axar Patel.
Prior to this match, Samson had already been dealing with a thumb injury that limited his role in the first three games of the tournament, where he played only as a specialist batsman and did not captain the team. Riyan Parag had filled in as captain during this time, showcasing his leadership skills. The Royals will now hope for a swift recovery for Samson as they prepare for their next match against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, April 19, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
In the ongoing match, the Delhi Capitals had set a challenging target of 188 runs, with Abhishek Porel leading the charge by scoring 49 runs off 37 balls. Contributions also came from KL Rahul, who added 38 runs, and both Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel, who chipped in with 34 runs each. The Royals, having opted to bowl first after winning the toss, faced a solid batting performance from the Capitals.
As fans await updates on Samson's condition, the team is left to ponder their strategy moving forward without their key player. His impressive performance in the tournament so far includes 224 runs in seven matches, averaging 37.33 with a strike rate of 143.58, with a highest score of 66 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The situation remains tense as the match progresses, with both teams vying for crucial points in the competitive IPL 2025 season. Will the Rajasthan Royals manage to overcome this setback and secure a victory, or will the Delhi Capitals capitalize on their strong start? Only time will tell as the game unfolds.
