Rajasthan Royals (RR) have dropped a huge hint at the appointment of Ravindra Jadeja as their new captain ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speculation regarding the leadership of RR has reached a fever pitch as the franchise prepares for the 2026 IPL season.
Ravindra Jadeja to become RR's new captain?
While young stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag have been frequently mentioned as potential candidates to take over from Sanju Samson, a growing chorus of fans and cricket experts has thrown their support behind Ravindra Jadeja. The veteran all-rounder, who recently made a high-profile return to the Royals via a trade deal with the Chennai Super Kings, is increasingly seen as the ideal veteran presence to steer the team. On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Rajasthan Royals took to X to share a post that has effectively confirmed Ravindra Jadeja’s elevation to the captaincy.
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The 37-year-old all-rounder from Jamnagar officially rejoined the Jaipur-based franchise following a blockbuster trade deal with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on December 16. This return marks a significant full-circle moment for Jadeja, who was a vital member of the inaugural 2008 championship-winning squad under the mentorship of Shane Warne.
Jadeja’s appointment comes after he reportedly edged out younger candidates like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag for the leadership role. The vacancy was created by Sanju Samson’s high-profile move to Chennai, a trade that saw the Royals acquire both Jadeja and England all-rounder Sam Curran. While Jadeja briefly led CSK during the 2022 season, he now steps into a more permanent leadership position backed by the immense experience of 254 IPL matches, 3,260 runs, and 170 wickets.
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Rajasthan Royals' full squad for IPL 2026:
Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen