Rajasthan Royals have confirmed Riyan Parag as their captain for the 2026 Indian Premier League season, placing long-term faith in one of the franchise’s most consistent performers over the past few years. The 24-year-old Assam all-rounder steps into the role after serving as stand-in leader during parts of the previous campaign.
Parag had earlier overseen the side in eight matches when the regular skipper was unavailable, gaining valuable exposure to leadership at the highest level of franchise cricket. The management’s decision signals continuity and a clear succession plan following changes within the squad ahead of the new season.
Leadership Call Made Ahead of New Campaign
The appointment was finalised earlier this week, with team officials communicating the decision to Parag before the start of international commitments. In his first reaction, the all-rounder acknowledged the responsibility that comes with leading a side with championship ambitions. Rather than dwelling on the honour, he emphasised preparation and areas of improvement as priorities.
The Royals were compelled to identify a new full-time captain after a reshuffle during the off-season. Parag emerged as the preferred choice over several senior names within the squad, underlining the franchise’s belief in his cricketing maturity and dressing-room presence.
Royals Eye Fresh Push for Title
Rajasthan’s last IPL title came in the league’s inaugural edition in 2008. Since then, the team has had phases of promise but has not managed to convert momentum into silverware. With a balanced squad featuring international experience and emerging domestic talent, the franchise will look to mount a sustained challenge in 2026.
Parag’s dual skill set offers flexibility in team combinations, while his familiarity with the Royals’ setup could aid in maintaining stability during crucial phases of the tournament.
IPL 2026 Schedule Awaited
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to release the fixtures for the upcoming season shortly. Planning discussions are ongoing to avoid overlap with regional elections, with the tournament likely to begin toward the end of March and conclude before the onset of the monsoon window.
With a new captain at the helm and renewed intent, Rajasthan Royals enter the 2026 season seeking a fresh chapter in their IPL journey.
Rajasthan Royals squad for IPL 2026
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Donovan Ferreira, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Kuldeep Sen, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Vignesh Puthur, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Brijesh Sharma, Aman Rao
