Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has expressed newfound confidence in his team’s setup after what was a shaky beginning to their IPL 2025 campaign. The Royals had stumbled out of the gate with consecutive losses to SunRisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, where even Samson’s role was limited to that of an Impact Player. However, the tide has begun to turn, with Rajasthan now registering back-to-back wins — first against Chennai Super Kings and most recently, a comprehensive 50-run victory over Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 5.
Speaking after the win, a visibly upbeat Samson stated that the team took a few matches to figure out their best playing combination, and now that they’ve found their rhythm, things are finally falling into place. “Yeah, absolutely. We just took some time to understand our combination. Now we have found our pattern and everything else will take care of itself. Everyone needs to take care of their body,” he said, subtly emphasizing the importance of workload management in a long tournament like the IPL.
Samson acknowledged that while the Royals may have been slightly below par in the powerplay with the bat, the intent and execution from his batting unit was still commendable. “I think the way we started in the powerplay with the bat, we were a few runs short but the way everyone showed batsmanship was brilliant. I knew that they will struggle as well in the second innings. 205 was a good total,” he said, pointing out how scoreboard pressure worked in their favour.
The Royals’ batting lineup, which includes young Indian talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, came to the fore yet again. Jaiswal struck a fluent 67 off 45 balls, timing the ball sweetly and anchoring the innings, while Samson himself chipped in with a brisk cameo on his return as full-time captain. Riyan Parag, continuing his fine form this season, added late acceleration with a powerful 43 off 25 deliveries, helping RR become the first team to breach the 200-run mark at the Mullanpur venue this season.
“We have a very deep batting line-up,” Samson remarked. “They are young in age but have a lot of potential. Many of them have already represented their countries, so there is no shortage of experience either. I think we managed the game pretty well from start to finish.”
However, it wasn’t just the batting that won them the match. Rajasthan’s bowlers, led by a rejuvenated Jofra Archer and the ever-reliable Sandeep Sharma, turned the screws on Punjab Kings right from the start. Archer, returning to the IPL after a year-long injury layoff, bounced back from a nightmare first outing — where he conceded 76 runs against SRH — with a stunning performance. He clocked 151 kph, the fastest ball of the season so far, and rattled PBKS by removing Priyansh Arya and the in-form Shreyas Iyer in the very first over. He ended with exceptional figures of 3 for 25.
Sandeep Sharma, on the other hand, showed why he is regarded as one of the best death bowlers in India. His subtle variations and control made life difficult for Punjab's middle and lower order, as he finished with 2 for 21 in his four overs.
Samson was all praise for the pair. “Absolutely, that’s a deadly combo. One guy is bowling at 140 while the other is operating around 105. That contrast creates a lot of problems for the batters. We’re very happy with the way both of them are working. I can trust them a bit more in pressure overs now,” he said. “Jofra doing Jofra things — we love it when he bowls fast. And Sandy, he’s one of the best guys in the death in India. Just superb.”
With these two wins, the Royals have not only found their footing but also discovered a combination that looks potent in both departments. The confidence within the camp appears to be growing and with key players like Archer regaining form and the batting unit firing, the team seems poised for a strong run.
Rajasthan Royals now shift their focus to their next fixture — a crucial match against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9. A win there could mark a turning point in their campaign, helping them climb the points table and reinforce their credentials as genuine contenders in IPL 2025.
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