IPL 2026: Riyan Parag responds cautiously to RR captaincy buzz post Samson exit

Riyan Parag has remained guarded about the possibility of becoming Rajasthan Royals’ permanent captain for IPL 2026. His comments follow the franchise’s decision to trade long-time skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the retention deadline.

Parag, who has captained Assam across domestic competitions including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, also has prior experience leading the Royals. In IPL 2025, he took charge in eight matches during Samson’s absence, even with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the lineup.

“I led the team in seven to eight games last season. During post-match analyses, I realised 80 to 85 per cent of my decisions were on point,” he shared in a recent conversation.

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He added that he is not dwelling on the potential appointment right now, revealing that owner Manoj Badale indicated a final decision will be taken after the auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

“Manoj sir mentioned that captaincy will be discussed post-auction. If I stress about it now, it will disturb my mindset. If the management believes I’m the right choice, I’ll willingly take it up. If they feel I contribute better as just a player, I’m fine with that too,” Parag said, noting the weight of leadership.

Parag also highlighted the broader responsibilities of a skipper beyond on-field calls. “People think captaincy is simple. Yes, it brings recognition, but only 20 per cent of it is actual cricket. You must attend meetings, sponsor events, media duties. I need to grow into all of that,” he added.

With Samson’s departure, Royals are evaluating leadership alternatives. Newly-signed Ravindra Jadeja is among the front-runners, while young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel are also considered, although the team isn’t expected to pursue a marquee Indian captain at the auction.

Earlier, R. Ashwin noted that franchises are generally wary of appointing a new player as captain in his debut season with a team. Jadeja has previously led CSK, though he may not prefer the role at this stage of his career.