Not Riyan Parag! Two leading candidates for RR captaincy revealed if Sanju Samson leaves franchise
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have reportedly shortlisted two players for captaincy if the Sanju Samson trade deal to CSK goes through. Riyan Parag led the franchise in Samson's absence last season, however, he is unlikely to be handed permanent captaincy.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have identified two players for the leadership role if Sanju Samson leaves the franchise ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. Samson is reportedly close to joining Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a trade deal, which might see star India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and England all-rounder Sam Curran head the other way.
While there has been no confirmation about the trade deal yet, multiple reports have stated that both CSK and RR have initiated the process for a trade deal involving the trio, and the player swap might be finalised soon. Samson is also reportedly keen on joining CSK, while the five-time champions have held discussions with Jadeja about trading him to RR.
Samson has been leading Rajasthan Royals since 2021 and has been the face of the franchise, while being one of their top performers with the bat. The Indian wicket-keeper batter has spent 11 seasons with RR in the IPL and was handed permanent captaincy in 2021. He has since led the team in five seasons.
Samson appears close to leaving the franchise, having made it clear to the RR management that he is looking for a fresh challenge. His absence will not only devoid RR of a great Indian top-order batter, but also a leader. However, the 2008 champions have reportedly identified two contenders for captaincy if Samson leaves.
Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal contenders for RR captaincy
As per a report in the Times of India, wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two contenders being considered for captaincy ahead of IPL 2026. Both Jaiswal and Jurel are RR's homegrown talents, and the franchise has invested heavily in both players.
While Jaiswal has already established his credentials as one of the best young batters in the world at present across formats, Jurel is seen as the next big thing for India and RR. Riyan Parag, another Indian youngster that RR have invested heavily in, led the team in the absence of Samson during IPL 2025.
However, Parag is reportedly not in the race for permanent captaincy. Jaiswal, who made his IPL debut for RR in 2020, has been one of the most consistent performers for the franchise with 2166 runs in 67 matches at a strike rate of over 152, including 15 fifties and 2 centuries. He enjoyed his best season for the franchise in IPL 2023, where he ended up smashing 625 runs in 14 matches.
Jaiswal hammered an impressive 559 runs in 14 matches last season and was one of RR's best players despite their dismal campaign. Jurel, on the other hand, has played only three seasons for RR, having made his IPL debut in 2023. He has 680 runs in 42 matches at an average of 28.33 and a strike rate of 153.85.
However, as per the report, Jurel has an edge over Jaiswal in the RR captaincy race as he is a wicket-keeper and can don the finisher's hat for the team. Sources close to the franchise believe Jurel's multi-dimensional skills and his ability to control the game as a keeper might see him pip Jaiswal for captaincy.