The Rajasthan Royals are kicking off IPL 2025 with a plot twist! With regular captain Sanju Samson still nursing a fractured finger, the Royals needed someone to steer the ship for the first three matches. Enter Riyan Parag! Yes, you heard that right—the 23-year-old will be calling the shots, making him the 5th-youngest captain in IPL history.
"I am not completely fit for the next three games. There are lot of leaders in this group. In the last few years, some great people have taken care of this environment really nicely. For the next three games, Riyan will lead the team," Sanju Samson said.
"He is capable of doing it. I expect everyone to support him and be with him," he added.
Samson injured his finger during the home T20I series against England. He underwent surgery before heading to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for recovery. He has though joined the Rajasthan Royals camp in Jaipur and reunited with newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid.
Parag’s journey with the Royals has been a bit of a slow burner—think of it like a pressure cooker finally hitting full steam. The franchise stuck with him through thick and thin, and boy, did it pay off last season! The Assamese batter turned heads, smashing 573 runs in 16 games at a strike rate flirting with 150. For context, before that, he hadn’t even crossed 200 in a single season!
His super run paid off and Parag received his maiden India call-up following his exploits in IPL 2024. He has so far played nine T20Is and an ODI after making his India debut in July 2024.
Now, with the captain’s hat sitting on his head, Parag has another golden ticket to prove his mettle. Will he thrive under pressure, or will the weight of leadership be heavier than a Chris Gayle six? Stay tuned, because Rajasthan’s royal gamble just got a whole lot spicier!
