Sun Mar 23 09:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Rajasthan Royals Name Riyan Parag as Stand-in Captain for First Three IPL 2025 Matches
**Jaipur, India** – Rajasthan Royals (RR) shocked fans Thursday with the announcement that Riyan Parag will captain the team for the first three matches of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The decision comes after regular captain Sanju Samson revealed he will only be available as a batter for the opening games due to a lingering finger injury.
Samson, in a video released by the franchise, explained his unavailability for wicket-keeping duties, stating that he needs more time to recover from surgery on his right index finger. He expressed confidence in Parag, saying, “There are many leaders in this team…For the next three games, Riyan will be leading the team.”
This will be Parag’s first IPL captaincy role, although he has previously led Assam in domestic cricket. The 21-year-old all-rounder enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, scoring 573 runs – the most by any RR batter and the third-highest overall in the league.
However, the announcement sparked considerable backlash on social media. Many fans expressed their disappointment that Yashasvi Jaiswal, a consistent performer for RR and a rising star in Indian cricket, was overlooked for the captaincy. Some commentators even went so far as to suggest that Jaiswal’s career with the Royals is being hampered. Jaiswal’s recent inclusion in discussions about potentially succeeding Rohit Sharma as India’s captain further fueled the controversy.
Samson’s return to the team will likely see him as an impact player, with Dhruv Jurel taking on wicket-keeping responsibilities for the initial matches. The decision by RR to appoint Parag, while potentially beneficial for his development, has undoubtedly created a storm of debate surrounding the team’s leadership choices.
First Piper 