For the IPL 2026 season, the Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their new captain, ushering in a new era for one of the league’s founding teams. The announcement follows previous captain Sanju Samson’s four-season career at the helm being ended when he was moved to Chennai Super Kings prior to the auction. Since 2008, the Rajasthan Royals have had seven leaders, leading the team to six knockout stages and one IPL championship. It’s interesting to note that throughout the tournament’s history, only Indians and Australians have captained the team.
The late Shane Warne led the Rajasthan Royals to their first IPL championship in 2008 with a youthful and very inexperienced team. Warne led the team in 56 games throughout four seasons (2008–2011), winning 31 of them, and helped to establish the franchise’s bold, youth-oriented ethos. Before it was broken in the 2025 Indian Premier League, he held the record for most victories as captain of the Royals.
