Riyan Parag is likely to take over as captain of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, following Sanju Samson’s move to the Chennai Super Kings.
Samson’s exit was part of a trade that brought all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Royals, signalling a major reshuffle in both leadership and team composition.
At 24, Parag is no stranger to responsibility. He stepped in as captain for eight matches last season when Samson was out injured. While the team secured just two wins in that period, Parag stood out with the bat, averaging 38.57. His run included a memorable 95 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, which remains his highest IPL score so far.
Reports suggest head coach Kumar Sangakkara held discussions with a few senior players before zeroing in on Parag for the role. The upcoming season will mark a transition phase for the franchise, which is also set to have a new head coach after Rahul Dravid parted ways with the team at the end of the 2025 campaign. The Royals had endured a difficult season, finishing second from bottom with four wins in 14 matches.
Parag has been with the Royals since making his IPL debut in 2019. Over seven seasons, he has featured in 84 matches, scoring 1,566 runs and taking seven wickets. His best season came in 2024, when he scored 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21.
Samson, who spent 11 seasons with the franchise, had hinted after the previous campaign that he was ready for a new chapter and was open to moving on.
An official confirmation of Parag’s appointment is expected in the coming days.