Riyan Parag has been named the new captain of the Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming IPL season in 2026, taking over from Sanju Samson who has moved to the Chennai Super Kings. This is not Parag’s first time leading the team, as he filled in as captain for eight matches last season when Samson was sidelined due to injury. Despite only winning two of those games, Parag’s individual performance shone through with an average of 38.57 and a career-best 95 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Having been a part of the Royals since his IPL debut in 2019, Parag has steadily improved each season. He played in every match over the last two seasons and had a standout year in 2024, scoring 573 runs at an impressive average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21. In his career so far, Parag has played 84 matches for RR, accumulating 1566 runs and taking seven wickets.
With his consistent performances and leadership qualities, Parag is set to lead the team in the upcoming season. The announcement was made on February 13, 2026, as the Royals look to build on their past successes under their new captain’s guidance.
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