Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has finally returned among runs as he scored a scintillating 90 against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 match on Friday.
Coming into the match under pressure, the RR skipper finally delivered with the bat. He came to the crease when the team was struggling, and played superbly.
Born in Assam, Parag was appointed RR captain ahead of IPL 2026 season after Sanju Samson's departure. He also captains his state in domestic cricket, and comes from a sports lineage.
Riyan Parag and his Sports Connection
Sport runs deep in Riyan's veins. He was born into a family where athletic excellence was the norm. His father, Parag Das, is a former first-class cricketer who represented Assam, Railways, and East Zone. Parag played a hands-on role in shaping his son's
game from a young age, teaching him defensive techniques before encouraging the aggressive six-hitting style that fans now celebrate.
His mother, Mithoo Barooah, is a trailblazing swimmer. She was a national record-holder in the 50m freestyle and represented India at the Asian Championships and SAF Games. In 1985, she won a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke at the Asian Age Group Championship-an extraordinary feat for a swimmer from Assam. Her discipline and competitive spirit clearly influenced Riyan's work ethic.
Riyan has no publicly mentioned siblings and appears to be the only child in the family. Growing up in Guwahati, he was immersed in sports from toddlerhood-imitating his father's shadow practice by the age of 16 months and inheriting a natural affinity for the water from his mother.
Riyan Parag's Education
Despite his early promise in cricket, Riyan's parents ensured academics remained a priority. He attended South Point School in Guwahati, one of Assam's top institutions, where he scored an impressive 82% in Class 10 with letter marks in Hindi, English, and Science. He later completed his higher secondary education at the same school before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cotton University in Guwahati.
