Riyan Parag is set to be appointed as the new captain of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026. While this move was already predicted, a report in ESPNCricinfo confirmed the same.
After the departure of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for two all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, it was a matter of time for the Rajasthan Royals to make Riyan Parag the new captain. Parag earlier led the side in IPL 2025 in the absence of Samson, who missed eight games with injuries. He led the side in eight matches and won two of them. Parag amassed 308 runs at an average of 38.57 in those games and scored his career-best 95 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
Reportedly, the head coach of Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, had interviewed quite a few players before finalising Pagar as their new captain. Since making his IPL debut in 2019, Parag has played all seven seasons for RR. The 2024 edition was his best, with 573 runs scored at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate above 149. Overall, he has played 84 matches for RR in the Indian Premier League, scoring 1566 runs and claiming seven wickets.
Samson, on the other hand, represented the franchise for 11 seasons before moving to the Chennai Super Kings. In IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals finished second from bottom with just four wins from 14 matches. As a result, their coach, Rahul Dravid, parted ways with the franchise, making Kumar Sangakkara the new RR coach.
The upcoming IPL season marks a significant transition for Rajasthan Royals, as the team will be stepping onto the field with both a new coach and a new captain. With these leadership changes, the franchise hopes to turn its fortunes around and deliver a stronger performance in the IPL 2026.
