Lakshmipathy Balaji questioned the Rajasthan Royals’(RR) decision to appoint Riyan Parag as IPL 2026 captain, calling it a risky move despite experienced options like Jadeja and Jaiswal.
Former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has questioned the decision to appoint Riyan Parag as RR captain for IPL 2026. He feels the franchise overlooked experienced options like Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rajasthan made the change after Sanju Samson stepped down following five seasons as leader. Parag had some leadership exposure earlier, captaining the side in 8 matches last season. He managed only 2 wins and 6 losses.
Balaji believes captaincy demands more than tactics on the field. He pointed to the importance of handling the dressing room and earning player trust.
“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. 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,” Balaji said on JioHotstar.
At the same time, he sees potential in the decision. The former cricketer feels the role could help Parag grow with guidance from head coach Kumar Sangakkara.
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“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 added.
Vaibhav Will Face Tougher Test In IPL 2026
Lakshmipathy Balaji also believes IPL 2026 will test youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi more. Opponents now have enough data to plan against him. He feels the second season often brings tougher challenges for young players.
“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.
Rajasthan begins IPL 2026 on March 30 against the Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 30 | Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati |
| April 4 | Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad |
| April 7 | Mumbai Indians | Guwahati |
| April 10 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati |
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