Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag recently opened up about Sanju Samson’s exit from the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Parag drew comparisons with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Virat Kohli to underline the void left behind at the Jaipur-based franchise.
Samson represented Rajasthan Royals for 11 seasons before the franchise sold him to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In exchange for the star wicketkeeper, Rajasthan Royals acquired veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as well as England all-rounder Sam Curran for the marquee tournament.
It’s like asking ‘Who is Virat Kohli’s replacement?’ – Riyan Parag on Sanju Samson trade
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Riyan Parag spoke openly about the change in leadership. The newly appointed captain of Rajasthan Royals said that finding a direct replacement for a unique talent like Sanju Samson is an impossible task for the franchise.
“Sanju’s game is unique; he can’t be compared with anyone else. It’s like asking, ‘Who is Virat Kohli’s replacement?’ – This is absolutely not possible. However, every player plays to win, and everyone has different abilities,” Parag said.
We were losing the match in the last stages – Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag also talked about the Royals’ campaign in the last edition. Parag said that the Royals lost the match in the crucial closing stages as the players failed to perform well in high-pressure moments against strong opposition.
“We were losing the match in the closing stages. If we had played with more freedom – or managed to hit fours at crucial moments, or prevented the opposition from doing so – we would have gone ahead. This time, we are addressing those mistakes and correcting them,” Parag said.
Parag stressed that the Royals management has focused on building a balanced team. The captain said that he has high expectations from Ravindra Jadeja.
“We have a good combination of spin and fast bowlers. In batting too, there is a fair mix of right- and left-handed batsmen. We have high expectations from Ravindra Jadeja; he is a brilliant all-rounder. Regardless of the venue, there is always a mixed crowd. We control the noise and focus on our game. Our aim is to perform well, wherever we play.”
Riyan Parag is ready to lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026
Riyan Parag recently returned from injury to play for the India A team during the practice matches of the T20 World Cup 2026. He performed brilliantly against Namibia, scoring 69 runs in 39 balls at a strike rate of 176.92, which included five fours and six sixes.
After leading Rajasthan Royals in eight matches during Sanju Samson’s absence last season, the franchise has now appointed Parag as their full-time captain as they aim to win their second title.
Parag will begin his leadership journey when Rajasthan Royals face Chennai Super Kings on March 30 in Guwahati. They will then play Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 4 before hosting Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Guwahati.
He made his debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2019 and played 84 matches, scoring 1,566 runs at an average of 26.10 and a strike rate of 141.84, including seven half-centuries.
Also read: RCB legend advised Abhishek Sharma to follow Virat Kohli’s style before IPL 2026.