Rajasthan Royals is among the top teams to watch in the IPL 2025. The Royals are undergoing some significant changes, one of which is the captaincy. The selectors have temporarily named Riyan Parag captain for the first three matches.
Sanju Samson, the regular captain, cannot lead the team due to recovering from a finger injury he suffered during India’s T20I series against England in February 2025. Since returning to the team after his recovery, he has not received medical clearance for his wicket-keeping duties.
While Samson has stepped down for three matches, he will still play as a batsman. However, it has still not been decided whether or not he will return to the team’s full leadership role after he is completely fit. Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel is popping up as the top name for wicketkeeping.
Why Riyan Parag? The Rajasthan Royals entrusted him with the captaincy due to his exceptional leadership qualities, which impressed the franchise selectors. The talented all-rounder had a phenomenal 2024 season, scoring 573 runs at a strike rate of 150. His outstanding performances also earned him a place in the national squad for T20Is and ODIs.
Riyan is taking charge of Rajasthan Royals for the first time in his IPL career. Moreover, he is one of the team’s youngest players, making this challenge even more interesting for the fans and selectors. However, he has a proven track record of leading his Assamese team, winning 10 T20 matches out of 17.
Rajasthan Royals will play their first IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and everyone is both excited and nervous to see the young all-rounder leading his team.