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Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a tough beginning to their season, dropping their first two matches under the stand-in captaincy of Riyan Parag, who has stepped up in the absence of the injured Sanju Samson. However, RR head coach Rahul Dravid remains optimistic, showering praise on Parag’s leadership and batting contributions ahead of the team’s clash with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Parag’s home state of Assam.
Parag’s captaincy debut was anything but easy. In RR’s season opener, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted a mammoth 286 runs, leading to a 44-run defeat. This was followed by an eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Despite the setbacks, Dravid highlighted Parag’s composure under pressure.
“I think he’s adapted really well,” Dravid said in a press conference. “It’s not easy to captain when [SRH] is scoring 280 runs on a flat wicket. The first game is probably a tough game to be a captain. But the calmness that he showed and the fact that it didn’t seem like our team was panicking was really good.”
Dravid also pointed to a standout tactical move in the KKR match. “His brave decision to bring himself on, realising that the wicket was turning, with two left-handers batting, to bowl the fifth over in the powerplay, was a brave decision and a correct decision,” he noted. Parag’s clarity and decisiveness have clearly impressed the former India coach, who has known the young all-rounder since his U-19 days.
Beyond his captaincy, Parag’s batting role has also evolved. After a breakout IPL 2024 season where he scored 573 runs at number four—finishing third in the Orange Cap race—Parag has been promoted to the crucial number three position. Dravid explained the rationale behind this move.
“Riyan is one of our best batters, let’s be honest,” Dravid said. “We want to give him as many balls as we possibly can. Twenty overs is a very short time, and the more balls Riyan Parag bats for us, the better it is for us as a team.”
This promotion underscores RR’s intent to maximize Parag’s impact, building on his proven ability up the order. However, Dravid emphasized flexibility in the batting lineup. “We’ll keep assessing, we’ll keep seeing how it goes,” he added. “Nitish Rana is also an option in that position.” This adaptability allows RR to tweak their strategy based on match-ups or to preserve left-right batting partnerships after the opening duo of Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Parag is set to lead RR for the final time in this stint against CSK on Sunday, with Samson expected to reclaim the captaincy soon as he recovers from a finger injury. While RR are still chasing their first win of the season, Dravid’s glowing endorsement signals a bright future for Parag as a leader and batsman.
“So I think he’s been very impressive,” Dravid concluded. “It’s nice for him to get this opportunity till Sanju is able to field again. He’s sharing his thoughts and his ideas—very clear, very solid in that sense.”
As RR take on CSK in Assam, Parag will aim to leave his mark—both with the bat and as captain—before handing the reins back to Samson. With Dravid’s backing, the 23-year-old is proving he’s a central figure in Rajasthan’s IPL setup, rocky start notwithstanding.
