Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has revealed the players whom Riyan Parag can turn to for leadership support in IPL 2026. Parag led Rajasthan Royals in patches in the previous season as Sanju Samson missed games due to injury woes.
After Samson was traded out to the Chennai Super Kings, RR appointed Parag as their new leader for IPL 2026. Parag has the experience of leading Assam in the domestic circuit but Pathan said leading an IPL franchise will be a different curry altogether.
RR ended the previous season in ninth place in the standings and they would aim to bounce back strongly in the upcoming season.
Pathan reckons players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer can help Parag on the field. However, most importantly, he reckons experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will have a major role in the leadership group despite not being a successful captain himself.
“How will Riyan Parag lead this side? There is a difference when you lead in domestic cricket, and when you lead in such a big league like this. He has a little bit of captaincy experience, but things are different here. Riyan Parag has upgraded in these last two years. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has a little experience, can help him. Sure, Jurel and Hetmyer can also help him. But if there is anyone who can help him the most, it will be Ravindra Jadeja. He may not have been a successful captain, but if there is such an experienced player on the pitch, it will only help you. You will miss Sanju Samson, there is no doubt about it. It is not easy to replace him, Riyan Parag has said it himself,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana were RR’s main spinners in the previous season, whereas Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi will be the team’s main spinners in the upcoming edition.
“If their campaign has to go well this year, then the economy of their main bowlers , which was around 10 last year, has to improve because this won’t work. If you want a championship team, then your main bowlers, who are the same this year as well, will have to improve their economy. Wanindu Hasaranga was your leading wicket-taker with 11, and that shows how far behind the bowling was. Last year, there were two overseas spinners, now there are two Indian spinners,” Pathan said.
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on 30th March at Guwahati.
