Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their captain for the first three matches of the IPL 2025, stepping in while regular skipper Sanju Samson continues his recovery. Though Sanju Samson has been cleared to bat, he remains unfit for wicketkeeping duties, prompting the franchise to make the temporary leadership change.
Rajasthan Royals confirmed the announcement through their official social media channels, sharing a video of Sanju Samson revealing Riyan Parag as the interim captain during a team meeting. “Update: Sanju will be playing our first three games as a batter, with Riyan stepping up to lead the boys in these matches!” the Royals stated.
https://x.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1902593579559874669
For Riyan Parag, this marks a significant milestone in his IPL career. Having joined Rajasthan Royals in 2019, the right-handed batter from Assam faced criticism for inconsistent performances in his initial seasons. However, he turned his fortunes around in the IPL 2024, emerging as one of the standout performers of the tournament. He amassed 573 runs in 16 matches at a striking rate of 149.3, silencing his detractors and cementing his place as a key player for the franchise.
Sanju Samson rejoined Rajasthan Royals earlier this week after recovering from finger surgery. The 30-year-old sustained the injury during India’s T20I series against England when he was struck by a bouncer from Jofra Archer. After undergoing surgery, he completed his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before linking up with the squad for their first practice session ahead of the season.
With Sanju Samson unable to keep wickets, Dhruv Jurel is expected to take over behind the stumps for the first three games. Rajasthan Royals, who won the inaugural IPL title in 2008, will begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 23.
