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 made his IPL debut in 2019 and 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. He impressed with the bat during that stint, averaging 38.57, including a career-best 95 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Overall, Parag has featured in 84 IPL matches, scoring 1,566 runs at a strike rate of 141.84. His standout campaign was in 2024, when he amassed 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21. Last season, his strike rate rose to 166.52, but his aggregate dipped to 393 runs, with just one half-century.

With Rahul Dravid also departing as head coach after the 2025 season, the Royals will enter IPL 2026 with a new leadership pairing, as Kumar Sangakkara takes charge alongside Parag.