“We wanted him to hit that shot instead of bowling short to him and him pulling it because he likes that,” said Riyan Parag after a challenging match for Sanju Samson.
In the IPL 2026 clash held in Guwahati, Samson was dismissed for just 6 runs off 7 balls, clean bowled by Nandre Burger. This marked a stark contrast to his previous seasons, where he consistently scored over 50 runs in his opening games from 2020 to 2025.
Rajasthan Royals, with Parag making his full-time captaincy debut, managed to secure a convincing 8-wicket victory against Chennai Super Kings. The win highlighted the team’s resilience despite Samson’s struggles.
“It wasn’t an easy pitch. There was something in it for the bowlers, a bit of moisture,” noted analyst Anil Kumble, emphasizing the challenging conditions faced by the players.
Samson, who made his IPL debut in 2013 with Rajasthan Royals, was traded to Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 18 crore, making his performance all the more scrutinized.
Despite the setback, Riyan Parag mentioned in the post-match presentation about the batting mindset, stating that as long as the team is winning, they are sticking to their approach. This reflects a positive outlook within the squad.
Suresh Raina also weighed in, saying, “I think that combination will be very important for RR this season,” hinting at the strategic adjustments needed moving forward.
As the season progresses, fans will be keen to see how Samson rebounds from this performance and whether he can regain his form. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any changes in the lineup for the upcoming matches.
