The milestone came at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, where Samson’s leadership helped the Royals continue their strong campaign this season. This latest win marked Samson’s 32nd victory as RR captain in 62 matches, overtaking Shane Warne, who had led the Royals to 31 wins in 55 matches, including the iconic title win in the inaugural 2008 season.

Most Wins as RR Captain (IPL History):

• Sanju Samson – 32 wins (62 matches)
• Shane Warne – 31 wins (55 matches)
• Rahul Dravid – 18 wins (34 matches)
• Steve Smith – 15 wins (27 matches)
• Ajinkya Rahane – 9 wins (24 matches)
   

Clinical All-Round Performance

The win over Punjab Kings was a commanding one. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable total of 205/4, the highest-ever team total at the newly-built Mullanpur Stadium. Leading the charge was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a gritty 67 off 45 deliveries. While it may have been his slowest IPL fifty, it provided the solid foundation the Royals needed.

Sanju Samson, the captain himself, chipped in with a valuable 38, while Riyan Parag continued his consistent run with a brisk 43. The trio ensured RR crossed the 200-run mark, putting Punjab Kings under pressure from the outset.

Archer Leads the Bowling Attack

With the batters setting the tone, it was Jofra Archer who sealed the deal with a fiery bowling display. The English pacer returned with figures of 3 for 25, dismantling the Punjab Kings’ chase with key wickets, including captain Shreyas Iyer and the in-form Priyansh Arya in the same over. He later picked up Arshdeep Singh to finish the innings on a high note.

Despite a fighting half-century from Nehal Wadhera, Punjab Kings faltered under pressure and finished at 145/8, falling short by 50 runs—ending their unbeaten streak in the tournament.

Samson’s Legacy Grows

From being a promising young wicketkeeper-batsman to now becoming the most successful captain in the franchise's history, Sanju Samson’s evolution as a leader has been remarkable. Under his calm and tactical leadership, Rajasthan Royals have become a more balanced and consistent unit. With plenty of matches left in the season, Samson now has a real opportunity to build on this legacy and possibly lead the Royals to their second IPL title.

As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how far Samson can take this squad in IPL 2025. But one thing is certain — the Royals are in good hands