Riyan Parag will captain Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL 2025 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday, March 23, as regular skipper Sanju Samson remains sidelined due to injury.
Samson, RR’s designated captain, has yet to receive clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence for wicketkeeping. Until he fully recovers, he will only be available as a batter or an Impact Player.
“Sanju Samson, an integral part of the Royals set-up, will remain a key contributor with the bat until he is cleared for wicketkeeping and fielding. He will return as captain once fully fit,” RR management said before the game.
The 23-year-old Parag will become the youngest captain of the Rajasthan Royals and the fifth-youngest in IPL history when he leads the team against SRH in Hyderabad on March 23 for their season opener. Smith initially captained the Royals at the age of 24.
List of Rajasthan Royals captains
| Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne | 56 | 31 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 55.35 |
| Shane Watson | 21 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 33.33 |
| Rahul Dravid | 40 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 57.5 |
| Steve Smith | 27 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 55.55 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 24 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 37.5 |
| Sanju Samson | 61 | 31 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 50.81 |
| Riyan Parag | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
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