Sanju Samson Undergoes Finger Surgery, Expected to Be Fit for IPL 2025

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson recently underwent surgery for a finger injury but is expected to recover in time for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Samson, who leads Rajasthan Royals (RR), is anticipated to be fully fit ahead of the tournament’s start in late March, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Samson suffered the injury during the fifth and final T20I against England earlier this month when a delivery from Jofra Archer struck his finger. Despite a promising start, he managed just 16 runs off seven balls before getting dismissed. In the second innings, he was unable to continue as a wicketkeeper, leading to Dhruv Jurel taking over behind the stumps. Jurel contributed by taking three catches as India secured a commanding 150-run victory.

Following the injury, Samson underwent surgery on Tuesday. Reports indicate that his recovery is expected to take approximately a month, allowing him enough time to regain full fitness before IPL 2025 begins on the March 21-23 weekend.

Samson’s recent T20I series against England was a disappointing one. He managed just 51 runs in five innings, averaging 10.20 with a strike rate of 118.60. This underwhelming performance was in stark contrast to his earlier successes against Bangladesh and South Africa, where he scored three centuries across formats.

The injury also forced him to miss Kerala’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Jammu and Kashmir in Pune, which began on February 8. Additionally, he was left out of Kerala’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year due to his inability to attend the preparatory camp before the tournament.

Samson’s next major assignment will be leading Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Under his captaincy, RR had an impressive run last season, making it to the playoffs before being eliminated by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the second qualifier.

Individually, Samson was the best batter for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, finishing as the fifth-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He amassed 531 runs in 15 innings at an average of 48.27, striking at 153.46. His consistency was highlighted by five half-centuries, making him a crucial asset for RR.