Riyan Parag has been appointed captain of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter 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 seasons of his career with the Royals. He briefly led the side in eight matches last year when Samson was sidelined due to injury. The stint proved challenging — Rajasthan managed just two wins and finished ninth — but Parag stood out with the bat, averaging 38.57 in those games. His highlight was a career-best 95 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
Overall, Parag has played 84 IPL matches, scoring 1,566 runs at a strike rate of 141.84. His breakthrough season came in 2024, when he amassed 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21. Although he struck at an even quicker 166.52 last season, his overall tally dipped to 393 runs, with only one half-century.
With Rahul Dravid stepping down as head coach after the 2025 season, Rajasthan Royals will enter IPL 2026 with a fresh leadership combination. Kumar Sangakkara is set to take charge alongside Parag, ushering in a new era for the franchise.
