Riyan Parag appointed Rajasthan Royals captain: In a shocking development, India’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was overlooked for the captaincy by Rajasthan Royals, and a familiar face is all set to get the reins of the franchise ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026).
There were strong murmurs that Ravindra Jadeja left the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the captaincy desire that the Rajasthan Royals were supposed to fulfil following a historic trade deal ahead of the IPL 2026 auction last year. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag were also in contention.
Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal snubbed as Rajasthan Royals hand captaincy to Riyan Parag
Jadeja was reportedly assured of the captaincy by the Royals, but now it has emerged that Riyan Parag will be the full-time captain from the upcoming IPL 2026 season. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Rajasthan Royals’ new head coach Kumar Sangakkara finalised the Assam star for the big role.
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The legendary Sri Lankan cricketer has interviewed a few RR players, and Parag was among them. He managed to impress the Royals camp with his vision, and the secondary thing is that he can be a long-term option for them following Sanju Samson’s departure to the Chennai Super Kings.
After spending 11 seasons with the Royals, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter wanted a fresh opportunity, and CSK was the best option. Last year, Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings in a blockbuster trade that brought Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the 2008 champions.
Riyan Parag’s stunning journey with RR
Riyan Parag is rising as the face of the franchise, and he is not new to leadership. The all-rounder has already led Assam in the domestic cricket and the RR once when Samson was injured and missed eight matches in 2025. That short captaincy spell was tough, with only two wins.
Parag has been part of the Rajasthan Royals since his IPL debut in 2019 and has played seven straight seasons. In the last two years, he played every single match for the team. The 2024 season turned out to be his breakthrough year, which earned him an opportunity in India.
He scored 573 runs at a brilliant average of 52.09 and a strike rate close to 150. So far, Parag has played 84 matches for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, amassing 1,566 runs and picking up seven wickets. Now, Parag is ready to lead a new era for the Royals in the world’s biggest T20 league.
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Rajasthan Royals face major stadium crisis before IPL 2026
Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 is now just weeks away, but the Rajasthan Royals have a big problem. Their home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, is not fully ready to host the matches in the upcoming tournament. A new safety report has found many serious issues in the stadium.
A recent independent audit has created panic. The franchise asked Tata Projects to check the stadium because they were worried about crowd safety. The report says there are problems in safety systems, building strength, and official approvals.
The report mentioned that the stadium does not meet minimum safety standards to handle large IPL crowds. Now officials are under big pressure to fix everything fast. However, the Rajasthan government has promised full support. Chief Secretary V Srinivas has informed BCCI that public safety is the top priority. Now everyone is waiting to see if the stadium will be ready in time.