Not Jaiswal or Jadeja! Ryan Parag will be the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, will take command in place of Sanju Samson.

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals has appointed Riyan Parag as the new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. This decision is a big step for the young all-rounder, as he will now take charge of the team. This news has come to light on 13 February 2026, which has been officially announced by the franchise itself.

New face after Sanju Samson’s departure

Last season, Sanju Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings. In his place, Riyan Parag has been made the full-time captain. Parag led the team as a stand-in captain in IPL 2025 when Samson was injured.

He performed well in many matches and cemented his place in the team. The franchise said that this decision was taken after two months of intensive deliberations, in which players, coaches and management were involved.

Riyan Parag’s reaction

Riyan Parag expressed happiness over his appointment. He said, "Rajasthan Royals is like home for me in IPL. This franchise has supported me from the beginning, developed me and helped me get better every season. It is very special to take charge of the team now. I will fulfill this responsibility completely. Together with the coach and leadership group, we will play fearless and smart cricket and make the fans feel proud."

Support of coach Kumar Sangakkara

Head coach Kumar Sangakkara also welcomed this decision. He said, "Ryan has become a high-impact player and is a strong presence in the team. He has shown calmness under pressure, has a deep understanding of cricket and understands our style of play very well.

He is respected in the dressing room. We are confident that he will be successful in this role." Sangakkara is handling the responsibilities of both Director of Cricket and Head Coach.

Riyan Parag’s record

The coaching staff of the team includes Vikram Rathore (Lead Assistant Coach), Shane Bond (Fast Bowling Coach), Trevor Penny (Assistant Coach) and Sid Lahiri (Performance Coach). Riyan Parag has played 84 matches in IPL so far. He has scored 1,566 runs, with an average of 26.10. This also includes seven half-centuries. As an all-rounder, he contributes with both bat and ball.