RR vs LSG: Sanju Samson raises 'suspicion' by gazing at coin toss, assigns new role for Riyan Parag in IPL 2024

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RR vs LSG: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson had some light-hearted moments at the toss during his side's IPL 2024 opener against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, March 24.

Samson had a close look at the coin toss as KL Rahul quipped if he had a special technique to get the call in his favour. When asked about the same question from Sanjay Manjrekar, the 29-year-old said he found the coin toss to be different from the last year, and was therefore having a close look at it.

Further, the superstar wicketkeeper-batter also made a major announcement regarding the team's 22-year-old batter Riyan Parag. He said that the right-hand batter would be Rajasthan's number four batter in the IPL 2024.

Riyan Parag slammed seven consecutive fifties in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023. He finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer (510 runs in 10 innings at an average of 85). He also picked 11 wickets at an average of 24.54.

In the Deodhar Trophy 2023, Riyan Parag emerged as the leading run-scorer. He scored 354 runs in 8 matches at an average of 88.50 and a strike rate of 136.67. He hit two hundreds in the domestic 50-over tournament for East Zone.

Parag was also East Zone's leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps to his name at an average of 19.09 and an economy rate of 4.84. In January, he smashed a 56-ball Ranji Trophy hundred - the second-fastest in the history of India's premier first-class tournament.

"I was just looking at the coin. It's a new coin, have to feel it before you flick it. We would like to bat first today. Looks like a good batting wicket, we were ok to do both, but we've a different combination today. Coming back to Jaipur gives positive vibes in the dressing room. Riyan Parag will be our number 4, Jos, Hetty, Boult are there - Powell could come in as an impact player," Samson said after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) Playing 11 vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal

LSG captain KL Rahul admitted that he would have wanted to bat first as well. He also talked about his injury issues, saying that they have unfortunately haunted him in the last few years.

"We would have batted first as well, but the wicket does look good. I'm happy to be back on the field, injury has become my best friend over the last couple of years, but it makes you hungry and perform much better when you're back. QdK, Pooran, Stoinis and Naveen-ul-Haq are our four overseas options. The focus is on this game for us at the moment," KL Rahul said.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Playing 11 vs Rajasthan Royals (RR)

KL Rahul(c/w), Quinton de Kock, Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur