Rajasthan Royals' Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign is in disarray, having lost six of their eight matches. They are currently without their regular captain, Sanju Samson, who has not yet recovered from injury. Samson did not turn up during RR's recent defeat against Lucknow Super Giants after suffering an abdominal injury earlier this month against Delhi Capitals.

He is now set to miss the Royals' clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday. RR head coach Rahul Dravid said he is "not fit" and the "medical team did not clear him to play."

Samson, who scored 224 runs from seven matches at an average above 30 and a strike rate exceeding 140, played the first three matches only as a specialist batter and has since missed two matches mid-season. With the Royals still looking for the right team combination, Samson's absence has been a significant setback.

"Sanju, I think, picked up a bit of a side issue in the game against Delhi (Capitals), and he could not play the last match or this one either. He was not fit, and our medical team did not clear him to play," Dravid told the press in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

He also explained why Samson was not turning up in the dugout: "So, we took the medical advice not to risk him with further travel - two more flights would have been a strain. We kept the physio back with him so we could treat him and try to get him back as quickly as possible. We are monitoring his recovery on a day-to-day basis," Dravid said.

Dravid also said that they have not set any specific timeline for his return. The Royals will return to Jaipur after their away game against RCB. They will host Gujarat Titans on April 28 and Mumbai Indians on May 1. They will then travel to Kolkata on May 4, followed by a nine-day break.

"I do not have a specific timeline for his return, but we are doing everything we can. We have got matches coming up quickly, and then a gap after the fourth. So, we will just have to wait and see. As of now, he was not fit for this match, and that's why he did not travel to Bengaluru," Dravid added.

In his absence, Riyan Parag will continue to lead the Rajasthan Royals.

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