Friday brought the news everyone was waiting for from the Rajasthan Royals. Riyan Parag gets the captain’s job for IPL 2026 officially now. Just 24 years old and he’s leading an IPL franchise.
Sanju Samson left for the Chennai Super Kings in that huge trade deal. His departure opened up the captaincy spot at the Rajasthan Royals suddenly. People figured Ravindra Jadeja would walk straight into leadership after arriving.
Instead, Riyan Parag got the nod ahead of the experienced all-rounder. He’s been with the Rajasthan Royals since debuting way back in 2019. Seven seasons wearing the same colours have built this trust clearly.
Riyan Parag’s IPL Journey
Riyan Parag has played 84 IPL games and put up 1566 runs so far. That’s not bad for someone who started at age 17 really. His strike rate sits at 141.84 which shows he goes after bowlers.
Seven half-centuries sit in his IPL record currently without a hundred yet. IPL 2024 was when everything clicked properly for him. He hammered 573 runs that season striking at 149.21 beautifully.
Last season, he scored 393 runs at an insane 166.52 strike rate. That Eden Gardens knock of 95 against KKR was absolutely brutal. Riyan Parag missed his maiden IPL century by just five runs there.
Previous Captaincy Experience
Riyan Parag already captained the Rajasthan Royals during eight matches last season temporarily. Sanju Samson’s injury gave him that leadership opportunity unexpectedly back then. The team won four and lost four under his captaincy.
Some reports claim just two wins happened under his leadership previously because Sanju played as an impact player. Either way, the results weren’t spectacular during that brief stint honestly. But Rajasthan Royals see long-term potential beyond those temporary numbers now.
New Era Begins
Kumar Sangakkara returns as head coach after Rahul Dravid departed post-2025. Sangakkara served as Director of Cricket since 2021 and coached before. The Parag-Sangakkara partnership begins fresh for IPL 2026.
Riyan Parag expressed emotional gratitude toward Samson recently in interviews. He said Samson played a huge role in his career development. Thinking about Samson leaving still hurts him personally even today.
