"Riyan Parag is the No. 1 contender" - Former India keeper on RR's likely captain for IPL 2026 after Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja's trade

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has opined that Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal, apart from Ravindra Jadeja, could be the captaincy contenders for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026. He reckoned that the Jaipur-based franchise might opt for Parag as their skipper.

RR traded Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. They traded in Jadeja and Sam Curran from the Chennai-based franchise in return.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Saba noted that while Jadeja will surely be part of the Royals' leadership group, Parag is the top contender to become the franchise's captain for IPL 2026.

"I feel the talks would still be on whether Ravindra Jadeja should be made the captain or not because there are two contenders in the Rajasthan Royals team - Riyan Parag and, along with him, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Ravindra Jadeja will definitely be a part of the leadership core and the Rajasthan Royals will need that kind of experience," the former India selector said. "I feel the Rajasthan Royals may opt for Riyan Parag because he has led Assam. His performance in white-ball cricket has been quite good. He has international experience as well. The Rajasthan Royals have treated Riyan Parag a lot like Sanju Samson and he has been built for this leadership role. So, in my opinion, Riyan Parag is the No. 1 contender at the moment," he added.

With 393 runs at a strike rate of 166.52 in 14 innings, Riyan Parag was the Rajasthan Royals' second-highest run-getter in IPL 2025. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal (559 runs at a strike rate of 159.71 in 14 innings) scored more runs for the franchise in this year's edition of the prestigious league.

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"Both players would have been given clarity before the trade" - Saba Karim on Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja's trade ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Sanju Samson might not captain CSK in IPL 2026. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Saba Karim opined that Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja's roles in their respective new franchises would have been clearly defined before their trade.

"Sanju Samson going to CSK is a clear indication that a different kind of role has been defined for him. I feel both players would have been given clarity before the trade, and that's why both have decided that it would be ideal for them," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that CSK's endeavor ahead of IPL 2026 would be to assemble a team that can serve them well for the next few years.

"It would be ideal for the team environment if one player goes to the Rajasthan Royals, and the other player, Sanju Samson, goes to CSK. The path ahead for CSK is very easy. They are trying to make a team that can serve them properly for at least two or three years," Saba observed.

Sanju Samson moved to the Chennai Super Kings at his existing price of ₹18 crore. Ravindra Jadeja, however, took a pay cut, moving to the Rajasthan Royals for a reduced purse of ₹14 crore.

Edited by Kartik Iyer