IPL 2026: Riyan Parag replaces Sanju Samson as Rajasthan Royals captain (Reuters Photo)

Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their new captain, marking the beginning of a fresh era for the franchise following Sanju Samson's move to Chennai Super Kings. Parag, who made his IPL debut in 2019, has been one of the Royals' longest-serving players, spending all seven of his seasons with the franchise. The appointment signals the team's faith in continuity and youth as they look to rebuild both on and off the field.

The 24-year-old had a brief taste of leadership last season when he captained the side in eight matches during Samson's injury layoff. While the results were mixed - two wins and six defeats as the Royals finished ninth - Parag stood out with the bat. He averaged 38.57 in those games, including a career-best 95 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, an innings that underlined his growing maturity.

Overall, Parag has featured in 84 IPL matches, scoring 1,566 runs at a strike rate of 141.84. His breakthrough season came in 2024 when he amassed 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21, establishing himself as a dependable middle-order force. Although his strike rate climbed to an impressive 166.52 last season, his aggregate dipped to 393 runs, with just one half-century.

Rajasthan was in search of a new captain after they engaged in a player trade with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to acquire Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange for Sanju Samson. They chose to retain leadership within their core by backing one of their homegrown players in Parag.

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Parag was among a select group of players interviewed by head coach Kumar Sangakkara before the management finalised their decision.This also marks a period of transition for the franchise, as RR will have both a new captain and a new head coach after Rahul Dravid parted ways with the team following the 2025 season.

- Ends