Riyan Parag putting RR captaincy talk in the background for now as he wants to get back in India’s white-ball side.
Riyan Parag: ‘Not thinking about Rajasthan Royals captaincy right now’.
Riyan Parag has made it clear that he isn’t actively chasing the Rajasthan Royals captaincy, but he would not shy away from the role if the franchise decides to place that trust in him.
With Sanju Samson having been traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 auction in December, Rajasthan Royals are now weighing up their leadership options — and Parag is expected to be among the players under consideration for the vacant position.
“There haven’t been any discussions about captaincy at RR yet,” Parag said. “Manoj (Badale) sir (the team owner) has told us that the decision will be made only after the auction. I’m not thinking about it right now either. If I start thinking about it now, it will mess with my mindset, and a significant amount of mental space will be occupied by just one thing – captaincy, captaincy, captaincy.
“If the team and management feel that I’m the right fit for the captaincy role, then I’m more than ready. Similarly, if they feel that I can contribute more effectively to the team as just a player, I’m ready for that too. My main goal is to have a season where I score 500-600 runs and take 10-15 wickets and help the team win the trophy.”
Parag had a brief taste of leadership at the IPL level in 2025, stepping in to lead Rajasthan Royals for eight matches during Sanju Samson’s injury layoff, though the side managed only two wins in that stretch. His captaincy experience, however, extends well beyond the IPL. He has been in charge of Assam in multiple formats, first taking over the T20 reins in 2021. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Assam have secured two victories from five outings and currently sit fifth in Elite Group A.
According to Parag, those responsibilities have played a significant role in his growth, not just as a cricketer but also on a personal level.
“Last year, I captained in seven or eight IPL matches, and I don’t know what people outside think, but when I went into the dressing room and analysed my decisions with the coaches and data analysts, about 80 to 85% of my decisions were correct,” he said. “You learn a lot from that, and when you go to the big stage, you don’t feel the pressure of how to captain or how to manage the team and the field. Overall, I always enjoy captaincy, and it has helped me evolve a lot as a person.”