If former India fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji is to be believed, Rajasthan Royals have taken a gamble by naming Riyan Parag as their captain for IPL 2026, especially when they had other suitable candidates,
including Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and even the young Yashasvi Jaiswal.
RR appointed Parag as their skipper following the departure of stalwart Sanju Samson, who led them for five seasons.
“I’m a little bit surprised by the call, especially when you have players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and, of course, overseas captaincy material like Sam Curran,” Balaji said on JioHotstar. “So, it is kind of a gamble. Captaining in the IPL is not only about on-field decision-making; it’s also about how you manage the dressing room. Your voice needs to be earned, and trust must be built. From that perspective, I feel it is a double-edged sword.”
Parag though led RR in eight matches last season, winning two and losing six.
However, Balaji believes this opportunity could spur Parag to take his game to the next level. He will also have the guidance of Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, who has been named head coach.
“There will definitely be a lot of help from Kumar Sangakkara, and you need that guidance. We have seen Rohit Sharma do it as a young captain with Mumbai Indians, with players getting used to leadership early. I’m sure this is an opportunity for Riyan Parag. If he can manage his performance and translate it on the field through his leadership, it is going to help him,” Balaji said.
Last season, RR handed a debut to teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who grabbed the limelight with a historic century.
While he enjoyed success in his maiden IPL season, Balaji believes the upcoming season will be more challenging for the 14-year-old, as opponents will have analysed his weaknesses.
“We have seen the kind of talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has. Last season, he scored that hundred against GT, against a very good bowling attack. Of course, the second year is always going to be a challenge for any player. That is where the mentorship of Kumar Sangakkara will come into play,” Balaji said.
“The opposition will definitely have worked on some of his shortcomings. This season will be a huge opportunity as well as a challenge for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as a youngster, to develop consistency. We saw that with the 175 he scored in the Under-19 final. So, there is clearly a lot of potential. How he translates it in his second season is going to be crucial,” he added.
