Riyan Parag named Rajasthan Royals captain

Riyan Parag has been appointed captain of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, ushering in a new era for the franchise following Sanju Samson's move to the Chennai Super Kings.

Parag, who made his IPL debut in 2019, has spent all seven of his seasons with the Royals. He briefly led the side in eight matches last year when Samson was sidelined by injury, managing two wins and six losses as the team finished ninth. While the stint proved challenging, Parag impressed with the bat, averaging 38.57 in those games, including a career-best 95 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.

Overall, Parag has featured in 84 IPL matches, scoring 1566 runs at a strike rate of 141.84. His standout campaign came in 2024, when he amassed 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21. Although he struck at an even brisker 166.52 last season, his aggregate dipped to 393, with just one half-century.

With Rahul Dravid also departing as head coach after the 2025 season, the Royals will head into IPL 2026 with a new leadership pairing, as Kumar Sangakkara takes charge alongside Parag in what promises to be a fresh chapter for the franchise.