March 20, 2025: Rajasthan Royals (RR) have announced that young all-rounder Riyan Parag will lead the team in their first three matches of IPL 2025, as regular captain Sanju Samson continues his recovery from a finger injury.
Samson, who suffered the injury during India's T20I series against England in February, has not yet regained full match fitness. While he will still play as a specialist batter, the Royals have opted to relieve him of captaincy duties for the first three games as a precautionary measure.
Speaking about the decision, Samson said, “I am not completely fit for the next three games. There are a 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. He is capable of doing it, and I expect everyone to support him and be with him.”
The 22-year-old Riyan Parag has been a key part of Rajasthan Royals’ squad over the years. After struggling for consistency in his early IPL seasons, he made a significant impact in IPL 2024, scoring 573 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate close to 150. His stellar performance earned him a place in the Indian national team, where he has since played nine T20Is and an ODI.
Parag also battled injury concerns himself, missing India’s T20I series against South Africa and England due to a shoulder injury. However, he has now fully recovered and is ready to take on the leadership role for the Royals.
Meanwhile, RR have also made adjustments in their wicketkeeping department. Since Samson is not fully fit to take up keeping duties, the franchise will rely on young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel.
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, followed by matches against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and Chennai Super Kings on March 30 in Guwahati. With Riyan Parag stepping into the captaincy role, RR fans will be eager to see how the young cricketer leads the team in the crucial opening phase of the tournament.