Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals have officially named Riyan Parag as their new captain for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
The 24-year-old all-rounder succeeds Sanju Samson, who was traded to Chennai Super Kings prior to the mega auction.
Speculation had swirled that Ravindra Jadeja — acquired in the trade package alongside Sam Curran — might assume the leadership role. However, the franchise made a decisive call on Friday, February 13, handing the reins to Parag, a long-term Royals investment who has steadily matured into a leadership figure.
Parag becomes the seventh captain in Rajasthan Royals’ history, following an illustrious line: Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, and Sanju Samson. He previously led the side in a stand-in capacity during IPL 2025, captaining 8 matches (2 wins, 6 losses) when Samson was unavailable due to injury. Those outings provided clear signals of his potential, and the franchise has now rewarded his growth with full-time command.
At just 23 years and 5 months old, Parag first wore the captain’s armband on March 23, 2025, against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Guwahati, making him the youngest captain in Rajasthan Royals history and the fifth-youngest in overall IPL records.
Retention & Performance Track Record
Rajasthan Royals retained Parag ahead of IPL 2025 for a hefty ₹14 crore, underscoring their belief in him as a cornerstone player. He joined the franchise in 2019 as a raw talent bought for just ₹20 lakh and has since completed seven seasons with the team.
Across 84 IPL matches (prior to 2026), Parag has amassed 1,566 runs at an average of 26.10 and a strike rate of 141.85, including 7 half-centuries. His highest score stands at 95. His breakout campaign came in 2024, when he exploded for 573 runs in 16 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.22, featuring 4 fifties, a performance that cemented his status as one of the league’s most improved and reliable middle-order forces.
This appointment signals Rajasthan Royals’ strategic shift toward youth-led stability following Samson’s high-profile exit. With head coach Kumar Sangakkara and co-owner Manoj Badale reportedly backing the move after extensive post-auction evaluations, Parag now shoulders the responsibility of steering the franchise into a new competitive era.