Rajasthan Royals’ decision to appoint Riyan Parag as captain for IPL 2026 may have raised eyebrows, especially with seasoned campaigners like Ravindra Jadeja in the mix. But head coach and director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara said the call followed a detailed and structured process, with Parag emerging as the standout candidate because of his maturity and clarity of thought.
Speaking ahead of RR’s opening clash against Chennai Super Kings, Sangakkara revealed that five players were in contention for the role, including Jadeja and Sandeep Sharma. Each candidate went through an extensive evaluation process designed to test not only tactical understanding but also personality and leadership approach.
“There were five candidates, including Sandeep Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. We had very strict parameters on how we were going to choose and what the process would be. We had lots of conversations with all candidates and realised all were very capable of captaining our side,” Sangakkara said.
What set Parag apart was his growth as an individual and his ability to handle difficult conversations. Sangakkara noted that the questions posed to candidates were intentionally tough and, at times, uncomfortable, but Parag’s responses reflected a level of introspection and awareness that stood out.
“Riyan came across as the top candidate because in all his conversations he seemed to have matured a lot. He was very reflective in answering all the questions and the questions were very tough, targeted questions. Some of those questions were quite uncomfortable. With his maturity and vision for the side, he became the leading candidate.”
Sangakkara emphasised that the Royals were looking beyond conventional captaincy credentials. The focus was on identifying a leader who could influence the group, think critically, and remain authentic in high pressure situations.
“Captaincy and leadership are two different things. Both are never easy. We looked at maturity, the ability to reflect on themselves, not just others, the ability to think critically, and how authentic they are in their answers. We also looked at how they can influence others around them, not just young players but senior players as well.”
Despite Parag’s modest record as stand-in captain last season, when Rajasthan Royals won only two of eight matches under him, the management chose to back potential over past numbers. Sangakkara said mistakes are part of the learning curve and Parag will have a strong support system within the squad.
“No captain or leader is perfect. I know how many mistakes I have made, but that is how you learn. Riyan is going to have a lot of support. Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Dasun Shanaka. He has a lot of people he can lean on in tough times.”
The leadership shift also followed a significant trade that saw former captain Sanju Samson move on, with Jadeja and Sam Curran coming in from Chennai. Sangakkara described the move as difficult but necessary for squad balance.
“The best trade is where both sides are happy but slightly unhappy and that is a great trade. We are extremely sad to see Sanju go. He has been an incredible player, leader and captain for us, but we knew it was inevitable. We got two very good players, one legend in Jaddu and Sam, which balances out our squad. The trade has helped us, although unfortunately Sam had to pull out because of injury.”
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