Riyan Parag recently shared how crucial Sanju Samson and Rahul Dravid’s guidance has been during his brief stint as captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL. Known for his fearless batting, Parag was handed the captaincy for the first three matches of the season as Samson opted to play solely as a batter. Although Parag has experience leading teams in domestic cricket, his IPL captaincy debut didn’t go as planned, with the Royals suffering a heavy 44-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Despite the tough start, Parag remains optimistic, understanding that leadership in a tournament like the IPL comes with challenges. He expressed confidence ahead of their upcoming match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, his home ground. When asked about handling the pressure of captaincy with experienced players around, Parag credited the support he received from Samson and Dravid.
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“Not at all. I think everyone here is a professional. Everyone knows what to do when there is a new leader. Sanju Bhai has been really helpful, and Rahul Dravid has also been a great support. So I have not really faced any trouble assembling the team or getting someone in the same line of communication,” Riyan Parag said during the pre-match press conference.
Reflecting on their performance against SRH, where they fell short chasing a daunting 287-run target, Parag found positives in the efforts of the middle order. Despite the loss, he noted how batters like Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Shubham Dubey showed encouraging form.
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“I feel the middle order is always the backbone of any batting order. For them to step up like they did, regardless of the end result, is a big plus. We won’t be chasing 280 every game. There will be 180, 140, and 150 games, and that’s where we’ll need them the most,” he added.
Currently at the bottom of the table with a net run rate of -2.200, the Royals hope to turn their fortunes around as the season progresses.
