'If I Think Rajasthan Royals, I Think Sanju Samson': Du Plessis on RR’s Massive Void

The departure of Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals franchise could be a make-or-break moment for the team as it heads into the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with experts highlighting the void left by a player long seen as the team’s identity.

Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan - Know Your Team', JioStar expert Faf du Plessis underlined the significance of Samson’s absence.

“And Sanju Samson, for me, was that guy at Rajasthan Royals. Yes, he's of a newer generation, but he had become the face of that franchise. If I think of Rajasthan Royals, I think Sanju Samson. So, the fact that they've lost that face, I think, is a massive thing for the fans, for the IPL, and for the tournament, because he's played such a big role there,” Du Plessis said.

The Royals are set to usher in a new era with Riyan Parag taking over as captain and the return of Ravindra Jadeja.

Can Yashasvi Jaiswal Stay True to His Game Without Sanju Samson at Rajasthan Royals?

The leadership shift comes at a time when the team is also recalibrating roles within the batting unit.

Du Plessis pointed to the added responsibility on Yashasvi Jaiswal following Samson’s exit.

"The thing with Yashasvi Jaiswal is that he's had Sanju Samson, who has been such a huge, consistent performer within that batting line-up,” he said.

“So, when you have that consistency of runs from Sanju, it allows you to play your game. Now, you take that away, all of a sudden, people will look at him with more responsibility. And for a player like him, you don't want him thinking about responsibility, you want him thinking, 'I want to take the game on. I want to hit as many sixes as possible’.” the former Proteas captain said.

“So there's a learning curve that's going to come into his career this season, 'Am I true to the game that I've always played, or do I take up the senior player role to score the bulk of the runs?' So it'll be interesting to see how that goes. I think he'll still play in the way that he does. It would be silly not to, because he's such an attacking player,” he added.

How Will Sam Curran Strengthen Rajasthan Royals After Sanju Samson’s Exit?

On the inclusion of Sam Curran, du Plessis highlighted the all-round value and leadership support he brings.

"Sam Curran, last year, had a really good season in T20 cricket. With The Hundred, he did really well, winning another trophy,” Du Plessis said.

“Around the world, he's performed really well in T20 cricket. So I think they will see him as someone who is really in form at the moment. He's doing well for England and is playing a difficult role, often coming in when the team is in trouble,” he added.

“So, the versatility that you get from Sam Curran is very crucial for the team because he gives you an over in the powerplay, bowls his cutters in the middle, and is really good at death bowling, whether with yorkers or slower balls. So you're getting a lot of skill sets there. Also, he's bringing experience and captaincy support to a young captain in that dressing room,” Du Plessis said.

“The more leaders you have around you, the better the support will be for Riyan,” he added.

Is Riyan Parag’s Captaincy at Rajasthan Royals a Gamble After Sanju Samson’s Exit?

JioStar expert and former India pacer Laxmipathy Balaji expressed surprise at the decision to appoint Parag as captain despite the presence of senior players.

"I'm a little bit surprised with the call, especially when you have players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and, of course, overseas captaincy material like Sam Curran,” Balaji said.

“So, it is kind of a gamble. Captaining in IPL is not only about on-field ability to take decisions, it's also about how you manage the dressing room. Your voice needs to be earned, and the trust needs to be earned,” he added.

“In that perspective, I feel like it is a double-edged sword. There will be a lot of help from Kumar Sangakkara, definitely, and you need that guidance. We have seen Rohit Sharma doing it as a young captain with Mumbai Indians, players getting used to leadership early. I'm sure it is an opportunity for Riyan Parag,” Balaji said.

“If he can manage his performance and translate it on the ground with his leadership, then it is going to help him,” he added.

Balaji also addressed the expectations surrounding Vaibhav Suryavanshi heading into his second season.

"We have seen the kind of talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi has, last season. He scored that hundred against Gujarat Titans, against a very good bowling attack,” he said.

“Of course, the second year is always going to be a kind of challenge for any player. That is where the mentorship of Kumar Sangakkara will come into play. The opposition would definitely have worked on some of his shortcomings,” he added.

“This season will be a huge opportunity and challenge for Vaibhav Suryavanshi as a youngster to get that kind of consistency. We saw that with the 175 he scored in the Under-19 final. So, of course, there is a lot of potential on the field. How he translates it in the second season is going to be crucial,” Balaji said.