Sports, Feb 13: Riyan Parag is poised to be named the new captain of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, following Sanju Samson’s high-profile move to the Chennai Super Kings. Samson’s departure was part of a trade deal that brought all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Royals, signaling a major reshuffle in both leadership and squad composition.
At 24, Parag already has captaincy experience with the Royals. Last season, he led the side in eight matches while Samson was sidelined due to injury, scoring an impressive 38.57 on average and recording a career-best 95 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Although the team managed only two wins in that period, Parag’s individual performance won plaudits.
The Royals’ head coach, Kumar Sangakkara, reportedly conducted interviews with select players before finalising Parag for the leadership role. The appointment marks the start of a new chapter for the franchise, which will also be adjusting to a new head coach after Rahul Dravid parted ways following a disappointing 2025 campaign in which Rajasthan finished second from bottom, winning just four of 14 matches.
Since his IPL debut in 2019, Parag has been a consistent performer for the Royals, featuring in 84 matches across seven seasons, scoring 1,566 runs, and taking seven wickets. His standout season came in 2024, when he amassed 573 runs at an average of 52.09 with a strike rate of 149.21.
Samson, who represented the Royals for 11 seasons, had expressed a desire for a fresh start after the previous campaign, paving the way for Parag’s elevation. An official announcement confirming the new captaincy is expected shortly.
