Samson, who underwent finger surgery last month, completed his rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence (formerly National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru and rejoined the team on Monday. He will feature as an Impact Substitute in the initial matches, with Dhruv Jurel taking over wicketkeeping duties.

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In a video message, Samson stated, “I am not yet fully fit to play three or more matches. But I believe we have many leaders in this team. Over the years, we have had fantastic individuals who have taken care of the team environment. For these three games, Ryan will lead, and he is fully capable of doing so. I hope everyone supports him.”

This will mark Ryan Parag’s debut as captain in the IPL. Having been a part of Rajasthan Royals since 2019, he was retained by the franchise for ₹14 crore in last year’s mega auction. In IPL 2024, he was the team’s highest run-scorer with 573 runs and finished third in the overall tournament standings.

Rajasthan Royals expressed confidence in Parag’s leadership in an official statement, saying, “As a key member of the squad over the years, Ryan’s understanding of the team’s dynamics makes him well-suited for this role.”