With Rajasthan Royals entering a new era after trading long-time skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings, all eyes are naturally on Riyan Parag. Yet, the young all-rounder has chosen to stay guarded about the possibility of becoming the franchise’s full-time captain for IPL 2026. His measured stance comes at a pivotal time, especially as the Royals navigate a leadership transition ahead of the December 16 mega auction in Abu Dhabi.

Parag isn’t new to captaincy responsibilities. He has been leading Assam in domestic cricket, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and even stepped in as Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain during IPL 2025. Across those eight matches—taking charge in Samson’s absence—Parag displayed maturity, tactical clarity, and a willingness to take bold calls even with Yashasvi Jaiswal present in the XI.

Reflecting on that stint, he told Sportstar, “I captained seven to eight games last season. When we sat down to analyse decisions in the dressing room, I felt I got about 80 to 85 per cent of them right.”

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Still, Parag remains realistic and grounded. He revealed that team owner Manoj Badale has already communicated that the captaincy call will be taken only after the auction. For now, Parag is steering clear of mentally locking himself into any expectation.

“If I think about that now, I will ruin my mental space. If the management believes I’m the right fit, I’ll put my hand up. And if they want me to focus purely as a player, I’m equally ready,” he said, highlighting his flexibility and readiness for either path.

Discussing leadership, Parag offered an honest insight that often goes unnoticed in public conversations. “People think captaincy is easy. Yes, there’s fame, but it reduces cricket to just 20 per cent. You have endless meetings, sponsor shoots, and media duties. I need to grow as a person to handle all that,” he admitted, offering a rare peek into the off-field demands of an IPL captain.

With Samson’s departure, the Rajasthan Royals have several potential candidates. Newly-recruited Ravindra Jadeja is an obvious contender, though his past experience leading CSK—and the pressures that accompanied it—may make him reluctant at this stage of his career. Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel are also in the mix, with Jurel’s stocks rising rapidly after earning a spot in India’s Test squad.

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Given their auction strategy, the Royals are unlikely to bid heavily on a captaincy candidate, making an internal appointment more likely. Meanwhile, in Chennai, there is clarity. Despite acquiring Samson, CSK confirmed that Ruturaj Gaikwad will return as captain for IPL 2026, with MS Dhoni stepping aside after a tough 2025 season where the franchise finished with the wooden spoon for the first time.