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Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson has been fined Rs 24 lakh for breaching the IPL code of conduct after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Wednesday. The Royals were comprehensively outplayed by GT, suffering a 58-run defeat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This fine comes as a result of RR’s failure to adhere to the required over-rate during the match, marking the second time this season the team has faced this issue. In an earlier match against Chennai Super Kings, stand-in captain Riyan Parag was fined Rs 12 lakh for a similar infraction. According to an IPL media release, other members of the playing XI, including the Impact Player, will be fined either INR 6 lakh or 25% of their match fees, whichever is lesser.
Samson admitted that his team let the game slip away during key moments, with their chase of a daunting 218-run target falling short as they were bowled out for 159 in just 19.2 overs. Gujarat’s bowlers dominated, running through Rajasthan’s batting lineup.
Speaking after the defeat, Samson pointed to crucial lapses in execution from both bat and ball. “We gave away 15-20 extra runs in the bowling,” Samson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “When we needed momentum, we lost wickets. With Hettie [Shimron Hetmyer], sixes and fours kept coming. But I lost my wicket, and that’s where we lost the game,” he added.
Despite his team’s collapse, Samson was among the few bright spots with the bat, contributing 41 runs off 28 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. He and Riyan Parag put together a brief 48-run partnership, but the fightback was cut short as Gujarat’s disciplined bowling attack took control.
Samson also acknowledged the strong start from RR’s bowling, particularly Jofra Archer, who made an early breakthrough by dismissing Shubman Gill. However, the Royals failed to maintain the momentum. “The way Jofra started was good, he picked up Shubman’s wicket. Then we went off plan. We planned something but they executed something else. We will have to look at that tomorrow,” Samson noted.
The Royals have shown strength when batting first this season, but their struggles in chasing down big targets under pressure have sparked debate. Samson reflected on this challenge, stating, “When you lose games, we also feel should we have chased? Should we have done something else?”
“We want to be a team that wins games while chasing, not just win batting first,” he added, emphasizing his team’s commitment to becoming a well-rounded unit capable of excelling in all situations.
With the IPL 2025 season entering a critical phase, Rajasthan Royals now face a period of introspection and analysis. They will be looking to bounce back from this defeat, regroup, and regain momentum in their pursuit of a strong finish to the tournament.
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