Riyan Parag will be taking charge as captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for their initial three games in IPL 2025. Regular skipper Sanju Samson, who is still recovering from a finger injury, will only be able to participate as a batsman until he receives clearance to resume wicketkeeping and fielding responsibilities.
After undergoing finger surgery, Samson recently rejoined the RR squad on Monday after completing his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. In the upcoming IPL matches, he is expected to serve as an Impact Sub while Dhruv Jurel remains an alternative wicket-keeper option. It may be noted that Jurel had previously taken up wicket-keeping duties during the fifth T20I against England in February when Samson sustained a finger injury from a delivery by Jofra Archer while batting. According to a statement released by RR, Samson will resume his role as captain once he has fully recovered.
Meanwhile, Parag will make his IPL captaincy debut and becomes the fifth youngest leader in the tournament. He joined RR in 2019 and was kept by the team for INR 14 crore before the mega auction. During the 2024 IPL, he achieved a remarkable 573 runs, the highest among all RR players and third overall. His four half-centuries also led to his T20I and ODI debuts for India.
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Starting with the opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, Parag will then play at home in Guwahati against both defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and Chennai Super Kings on March 30. His successful track record as a leader is evident, having won 10 out of 17 matches while leading Assam in T20 cricket from 2021 to 2023, with an average of 67.09 and a strike rate of 167.72.
