Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson will look to end the franchise’s long wait for a second Indian Premier League (IPL) title as the 18th edition of the 10-team tournament begins on Saturday, March 22.
In a recent interview, Samson said that the Royals had one of their best IPL cycles – the three seasons after the mega auction in 2022. The inaugural champions played the finals in IPL 2022, finished fifth in IPL 2023, and lost in Qualifier 2 last year.
The Kerala wicketkeeper understands that the Royals have had to let go of many of their former players in the 2025 mega auction. However, he is looking forward to building camaraderie with the new players who have been roped in and hopes to make good use of the pre-season camp to facilitate the same.
“We’ve had one of the best IPL cycles in the last three seasons, with the highest winning percentage and some of the best players Rajasthan Royals has ever had. We had all the superstars from around the world, and it felt like a family. But then, as per IPL rules, you have to let go of that family and build a new one again. So that’s where we are 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 while speaking exclusively in Superstars on JioHotstar.
“Personally, I’m very excited about this challenge—meeting new people, building relationships, and understanding the personalities behind the performances. That’s where the real fun lies. The work begins long before the IPL, during the 7-10 days of preparation. 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 added.
The Royals begin their IPL 2025 campaign on Sunday, March 23, in an afternoon fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
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