Rajasthan Royals (RR) have announced that 23-year-old all-rounder Riyan Parag will captain the team for the first three matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This decision comes as regular skipper Sanju Samson continues to recover from a finger injury sustained during India’s T20I series against England in February.
Samson, who underwent surgery and rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, has been cleared to bat but is yet to regain full fitness for wicketkeeping duties. As a result, he will play as a specialist batter and may feature as an Impact Player during the initial games. Dhruv Jurel is expected to take over wicketkeeping responsibilities in Samson’s absence.
Riyan Parag, a key member of the Royals since 2019, will lead the team in their opening fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, followed by matches against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and Chennai Super Kings on March 30. This marks Parag’s first stint as captain in the IPL, making him one of the youngest captains in the tournament’s history.
The Rajasthan Royals management expressed confidence in Parag’s leadership abilities, citing his experience as Assam’s domestic captain and his strong performance in the previous IPL season, where he scored 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21.
Fans and cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the Royals’ performance under Parag’s captaincy as the team aims for a strong start to the season. Stay tuned for more updates on IPL 2025 and Rajasthan Royals’ journey.
