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Star batter Riyan Parag has remained non-committal regarding the possibility of being named the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) full-time captain for the 2026 IPL season. Recently, RR traded Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings just before the retention deadline.
Riyan Parag's clear-cut take on Rajasthan Royals' captaincy talks
Parag is currently the captain of Assam in domestic cricket, notably leading the team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. Furthermore, he possesses prior captaincy experience with the Royals. During the 2025 IPL season, Parag stepped up to captain the side in eight matches when Sanju Samson was unavailable, taking the helm even when other senior players like Yashasvi Jaiswal were part of the squad
“I captained in seven to eight matches in the IPL last season. In the dressing room, when we would analyse decisions, I have done things right 80 to 85 per cent,” Parag told Sportstar.
The decision on captaincy will be taken after the auction: Riyan Parag
Parag stated that he is deliberately avoiding overthinking the potential responsibility of becoming the Rajasthan Royals' full-time captain at the moment. He explained that team owner Manoj Badale informed him that the final decision on the new leader would be made after the IPL auction, which is scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Parag added that distracting himself with captaincy speculation now would negatively affect his mental space.
“Manoj [Badale] sir has said the decision [on captaincy] will be taken after the auction. If I think about that now, I will ruin my mental space. If the team management feels I am the right fit for captaincy, I am ready to put my hand up. If they feel that, as a player, I can contribute more, I am ready for that also,” he said added.
The 24-year-old also offered a deeper reflection on the role of a captain, noting that the responsibilities extend far beyond simply making tactical decisions and calls on the cricket field during a match.
“Everyone has the misconception that captaincy is easy. Yes, there is an element of fame in captaincy, but it reduces the element of cricket to 20 per cent. You have to attend all the meetings, attend sponsor shoots, and answer the media. I need to develop these things as a person,” Parag added.
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With the departure of Samson, RR are actively seeking a new skipper for the team. Newly acquired Ravindra Jadeja is reportedly being considered as one possible option. The squad also includes other potential candidates, such as the established opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel.
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