The Rajasthan Royals faced a considerable setback in their recent IPL 2025 encounter against the Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, as their captain Sanju Samson departed the field due to a rib injury. Samson was in the middle of his innings, having scored 31 runs off 19 balls, when he sustained the injury while attempting a shot against bowler Vipraj Nigam. Despite briefly attempting to continue after receiving medical attention, the discomfort prompted him to leave, which raised concerns regarding the severity of his condition. Analysts believe he may be dealing with a grade 1 to 3 muscle tear, a possibility articulated by one of the match commentators during his treatment by the Rajasthan Royals’ physiotherapist. Notably, Samson had previously played the first three matches of the tournament as an Impact Player while he was in recovery, which highlights the ongoing challenges he faces with his fitness.
As the match unfolded, the Delhi Capitals exhibited a commanding performance, driven by an impressive middle-order display led by their skipper, Axar Patel, and South African batsman Tristan Stubbs. The Capitals compiled a formidable total of 188 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allocated 20 overs after opting to bat first.
Delhi's innings commenced with a brisk start, courtesy of opener Abhishek Porel, who took the lead in setting a competitive tone. He significantly attacked Tushar Deshpande, accumulating 23 runs in the second over. Nevertheless, the Capitals soon encountered turbulence when Jake Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for just 9 runs by Jofra Archer, and Karun Nair was dismissed without adding to the scoreline shortly thereafter.
Despite the early wickets, Porel remained resolute at the crease, forming a crucial 63-run partnership with KL Rahul, who produced a steady innings of 38 runs before falling victim to Archer—marking the bowler's second wicket of the match. Porel himself narrowly missed out on a half-century, departing for 49 runs from 37 balls, which included five boundaries and one six, as he was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga.
The innings gained momentum once more through Axar Patel as he unleashed a flurry of aggressive strokes, bludgeoning 34 runs from just 14 deliveries. His onslaught featured four elegant fours and two sixes, showcasing his ability to maintain the pressure on the opposition. Patel’s innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana, yet he successfully partnered with Stubbs to add 41 runs to the total during their time at the crease.
Tristan Stubbs then assumed the role of the anchor, ending the innings with a commendable unbeaten score of 34 runs off 18 balls, characterized by two boundaries and two sixes. He specifically targeted Sandeep Sharma during the concluding stages of the innings, managing to collect 12 runs in the final over, thereby contributing to a total of 19 runs through that over alone, allowing the Capitals to finish their innings on a high note.
In the death overs, Stubbs also formed an unbroken partnership of 42 runs with Ashutosh Sharma, who contributed a modest 15 runs to the total. This late surge ensured that Delhi Capitals ended with a challenging score that would put pressure on the Royals.
On the bowling front for the Royals, Jofra Archer emerged as the standout performer with remarkable figures of 2 wickets for 32 runs in his four overs. Both Hasaranga and Theekshana added a wicket to their tally, offering valuable support to Archer's efforts as they aimed to restrict the Capitals' impact. The Rajasthan Royals will be looking to regroup and assess their strategy as they move forward in the tournament, particularly with concerns surrounding their captain's fitness looming large.