IPL 2026 Countdown: Rajasthan Royals has the task of filling Sanju Samson’s big shoes

Rajasthan Royals has the task of filling Sanju Samson’s big shoes

If you are a Rajasthan Royals fan, you are allowed a cry or two in anguish.

Firstly you see your best player and captain leave Jaipur after lighting up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium for over a decade with his gorgeous strokeplay. He then goes on to win India the T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson is the man of the moment in Indian cricket, but he has traded pink for yellow.

Later, you hear that one of the two men who Royals traded from Chennai Super Kings in exchange of Samson is out of the IPL because of an injury. Sam Curran is no Samson but he would have been an all-rounder who Royals needed. Alongside the other man involved in the deal — Ravindra Jadeja — the Englishman was expected to provide more balance to the team. Now Kumar Sangakkara, back as the head coach, has got some rethinking to do.

But there is still plenty of quality in the Royals squad. Let us begin with the beginners. In Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the Rajasthan outfit has one of the most explosive opening combinations in the league. And there is beauty in their assault. The two lefties can put not only the Royals innings on the right track but also its entire campaign.

Jaiswal has already proved himself as a brilliant all-format batter, while Suryavanshi is the boy wonder who promises impossible possibilities. The 14-year-old’s 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans last season will remain one of the greatest knocks of the league.

There is, of course, a lot more to the Royals batting unit than the dashing opening duo. Newly-appointed captain Riyan Parag, on whom Royals kept faith even when he was struggling for a few years, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, the South African pair of Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Shubham Dubey offer plenty of firepower.