Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals, has flatly dismissed any rumors of conflict between him and skipper Sanju Samson, describing the latest rumors as "baseless" and claiming that the squad is still committed to winning the IPL in 2025.
After a video clip from Wednesday's thrilling match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium went popular on social media, the rumors about a purported schism gained momentum. Dravid was spotted engaged in conversation with a few players and support members just prior to the Super Over match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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A player motioned for Samson, who was spotted close to the dugout, to join in the discussion over which hitters should strike against Mitchell Starc.
However, the skipper stayed away from the gathering and casually declined the request with a hand gesture.
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Fans analyzed the image as a symbol of disconnection as it went viral online. Some even said that Samson's leadership would be in jeopardy, while others made wild speculations about him perhaps joining the Chennai Super Kings.
Dravid responded to the noise with a firm stance.
“I don't know where these reports are coming from. Sanju and I are on the same page,” said Dravid in a press conference.
“He's a very integral part of our team. He's involved in each and every decision and discussion. Sometimes, when you lose games and things don't go right, you face criticism and we can take it on our performances, but we can't do anything about this baseless stuff. The spirit of the team is really good, I'm impressed with how hard these guys work. One of the things people don't understand is how hurt the players feel when they don't perform.”
The emphasis will now likely shift back to cricket, as the Royals are still very much in the running for a playoff berth. RR will play the Lucknow Super Giants in a crucial match on Saturday as they try to get back on track after suffering a tough loss in Delhi.
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