Riyan Parag Open to Rajasthan Royals Captaincy Ahead of IPL 2026
Riyan Parag Discusses Captaincy Prospects
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Riyan Parag expressed on Friday that he is not currently preoccupied with the idea of leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. However, he is ready to embrace the captaincy if the management decides to appoint him, according to reports from a sports media outlet.
Parag mentioned that discussions regarding the captaincy have yet to take place, with decisions expected to follow the auction. He emphasized that overthinking the role at this stage could interfere with his focus and mental clarity.
He stated, "There have been no conversations about captaincy at RR so far. Manoj Badale, our team owner, has indicated that a decision will be made post-auction. I’m not dwelling on it now; if I do, it will clutter my mind with thoughts of captaincy, which I want to avoid."
If the team feels he is suitable for the captaincy, he is prepared to take on the challenge. Conversely, if they believe he can contribute more effectively as a player, he is open to that as well. His primary aim is to achieve a season where he scores between 500-600 runs and takes 10-15 wickets to help the team secure the trophy.
Reflecting on his experience from the previous season, Parag noted that after captaining in seven or eight matches, his post-match evaluations with coaches revealed that around 80 to 85% of his decisions were sound.
He remarked, "Last year, I led in several matches, and while I’m unsure of outside opinions, my analysis with coaches showed that most of my choices were correct. This experience has taught me a lot, and it alleviates the pressure of captaincy on a larger stage. I genuinely enjoy leading and it has contributed significantly to my personal growth."
Parag is not concerned about the Royals entering the IPL 2026 auction without a designated captain. He clarified that significant decisions are made collectively by the leadership group, which includes Ravindra Jadeja, along with the coaching staff, before the owners make final decisions. Thus, a captain is not essential for participating in the auction.
He explained, "In RR, major decisions involve all of us. We consult each other before making significant choices. With Jaddu bhai now part of our team, he will certainly contribute to our leadership discussions. There are about four or five of us in this group, and we deliberate on trades or auction bids together before the owners finalize anything. Therefore, I don’t believe we need a captain before the auction to represent us."
It’s worth noting that the Rajasthan Royals recently traded their captain, Sanju Samson, to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-profile exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of the 2026 season.