Former India bowler Laxmipathy Balaji has questioned Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) choice of naming Riyan Parag as their full-time captain ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This comes after Sanju Samson’s trade to the Chennai Super Kings with Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja joining the 2008 champions.
Parag did lead RR on an interim basis in 2025 whilst Samson was injured. The 24-year-old captained eight times last time around, where the Jaipur outfit won only twice and eventually finished ninth in the standings. Balaji understandably questions RR’s decision to name Parag as their new captain and fill in the shoes left behind by Samson whilst already possessing some natural leaders on their side.
Returnee Jadeja has previously captained CSK, while Curran has been one of the finest leaders in franchise cricket, leading Desert Vipers to their maiden ILT20 title earlier this year while also impressing during the T20 World Cup for the English team that ended up as semi-finalists at the twenty-team tournament.
“I’m a little bit surprised with the call, especially when you have players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and, of course, overseas captaincy material like Sam Curran. So, it is kind of a gamble. Captaining in IPL is not only about on-field ability to take decisions, it’s also about how you manage the dressing room. Your voice needs to be earned, and the trust needs to be earned. In that perspective, I feel like it is a double-edged sword,” Balaji was quoted as saying on JioStar.
Balaji, however, does believe that the 2026 IPL is a great opportunity for Parag to stamp his authority on the squad and replicate what Rohit Sharma did at the Mumbai Indians in 2013.
“There will be a lot of help from Kumar Sangakkara, definitely, and you need that guidance. We have seen Rohit Sharma doing it as a young captain with Mumbai Indians, players getting used to leadership early. I’m sure it is an opportunity for Riyan Parag. If he can manage his performance and translate it on the ground with his leadership, then it is going to help him,” he added.
RR will begin their 2026 IPL campaign with a home game against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side at the ACA Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, March 30. The team will play their opening three games in Assam, also Parag’s home state in domestic cricket.
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