Riyan Parag, the young all-rounder from Assam, has been named the captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the first three matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This decision comes as regular captain Sanju Samson continues his recovery from a finger injury. Below is a detailed explanation of the situation:
1. Reason for Leadership Change
- Sanju Samson, RR’s regular captain, injured his right index finger during India’s T20I series against England.
- While he is fit to bat, he has not yet regained full fitness for wicket-keeping duties.
- Due to this, the RR management has decided to hand over the captaincy to Riyan Parag for the first three matches.
2. Official Announcement
- The announcement was made in a team meeting led by Sanju Samson.
- In a video shared by RR on social media, Samson confirmed that he won’t be keeping wickets in the first three games and that Parag will lead the team.
- Samson asked all team members to support Parag in his temporary leadership role.
3. Riyan Parag’s IPL 2024 Performance
- Parag had an outstanding IPL 2024 season, emerging as RR’s top run-scorer.
- He scored 573 runs in the season at an impressive average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21.
- It was the first time that two RR players (Parag and Samson) crossed 500 runs in a single season.
4. Leadership Experience of Riyan Parag
- Parag has captained Assam in domestic cricket across different formats.
- His leadership skills and aggressive batting style make him a promising captain for RR in the absence of Samson.
5. Role of Sanju Samson in the First Three Matches
- Though not captaining, Samson will still play as a specialist batsman.
- He will attend the IPL captains’ meeting in Mumbai, maintaining his role in RR’s leadership group.
- His presence on the field will provide guidance to Parag when needed.
