IPL 2026: Riyan Parag Breaks His Silence on RR Captaincy Talk After Sanju Samson’s Exit

The IPL 2026 countdown has begun, and the hype about the next Rajasthan Royals captain is also on. The sudden transfer of Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has created one of the biggest leadership voids, and the focus has unavoidably turned on to the young man who has already borne the burden in tough situations: Riyan Parag.

Yet, amidst the mounting thrill, the 21-year-old is still reflecting, rooted and more mature than his actual age.

Parag, who has just now finished leading Assam in the domestic circuit, has answered the captaincy speculation in an interview with the sports magazine Sportstar through his journey of being RR's leader in several matches during IPL 2025.

“Last season, I captained seven or eight games. When we analysed decisions in the dressing room, I felt 80–85% of them were right,” he said, confident and yet not arrogant.

“Captaincy decision only after the auction” — Parag stays unflappable

Parag also shared that one of the team owners, Manoj Badale, has clearly stated that the job of announcing the Royals’ captain will be done only after the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

“If I think about captaincy now, it will disturb my mental space. If the team feels I’m the right guy, I will put my hand up. If they want me to focus just as a player, I’m ready for that too,” Parag said—demonstrating very refreshing emotional maturity.

“Captaincy is not just fame—just 20% is cricket”

Going deeper into the subject of what a true leader is, Parag pointed out that the role of a captain is not just a matter of discussing strategies on the field.

“People think captaincy is easy because of the fame, but only about 20% of it is cricket. You have meetings, sponsor shoots, media duties… I need to grow as a person to handle all that,” he confessed.

This candid assessment makes it very clear that the young player is well aware of the challenge he would have to face if he got the role and that he won't be too quick to decide.

Who will be the one to guide Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026?

With Samson out of the picture, RR now finds itself with a number of potential candidates for captaincy:

Ravindra Jadeja

Just acquired, an experienced player, and a former CSK captain—but it is highly unlikely that the team would give leadership to someone new in the first year.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

A player deemed pivotal to RR's success, young yet already a significant player in the franchise's long-term vision.

Dhruv Jurel

Quickly rising through the ranks in all formats and now a part of the Indian Test squad—another potential candidate.

Former RR player R. Ashwin recently mentioned that franchises are generally reluctant to appoint captains who are new to the team, hence, Jadeja's chances are uncertain.

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are unlikely to go for a captain during the auction and will rather select one from their current players.

What about Sanju Samson at CSK?

Sanju Samson, despite speculations, won't be the captain of the CSK team in IPL 2026. The team had already disclosed that Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the captain again after he was out for most of last season owing to an injury.

Last year MS Dhoni took over the role, but the CSK side suffered what was by far their worst-ever season, finishing the league at the bottom of the table for the first time in their history.

As the auction date gets closer, the excitement and the question of whether Riyan Parag will take on one of the IPL’s most demanding leadership roles or the Royals spring a surprise.

Currently, Parag is the one that everybody is talking about—serene, composed and ready for the moment when the franchise will make its decision.