‘Have to respect that no matter his age’ – RR captain Sanju Samson gives up opening slot for Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Rajasthan Royals (RR) took on Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on May 18. A fit again RR skipper Sanju Samson, who returned to lead the team after an injury kept him out of action before the IPL was halted, confirmed that his replacement Vaibhav Suryavanshi will continue to bat at the top of the order.

Samson sustained an abdominal injury against Delhi Capitals (DC) and had to be replaced by Suryavanshi in the playing XI. This was the second time when Samson’s participation was affected after he played the first three games of the season as a specialist batter, coming in as an Impact Player, while recovering from a finger injury.

The 14-year-old Suryavanshi, who opened the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in Samson’s absence, impressed from his very first match. The young left-hander smashed the first ball he faced in IPL for a six against Lucknow Super Giants and then hit a record 37-ball century against Gujarat Titans to announce himself in the league.

“Wanted to bowl first after how the pitch behaved in the last game against RCB. Let’s see how it plays out today.

I am okay, hundred percent fit,” Sanju Samson said at the toss.

“[On Suryavanshi’s batting position] I think if someone has done something extraordinary, you have to respect that no matter his age, I will bat down the order, I come in for Nitish Rana. [Kwena] Maphaka comes in for Jofra Archer,” added Samson.

The Men in Pink have two games left to play in the current season after being eliminated from the IPL 2025. However, with 15 points and a third-place finish in the standings, PBKS is well within striking distance of the playoffs.

PBKS’s next two games are against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 26 and the Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 24. PBKS will become the first side to reserve a spot in the playoffs if they defeat RR and guarantee their qualification.