The trade of Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has left a significant leadership void at the Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming IPL 2025. New acquisitions Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran bolster the squad, but the question remains: who will be the new Rajasthan Royals captain?
The legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble and the former CSK and India batter Robin Uthappa have opined that the race is down to two names for the captaincy of the 2008 IPL champions, leaving young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the equation.
Who Are in the Captaincy Race at Rajasthan Royals
The Rajasthan Royals made big moves before the IPL Auction 2026 by bringing in experienced all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. They also acquired players like Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen, and Vignesh Puthur in Abu Dhabi to strengthen their balance.
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However, leadership remains the biggest talking point after Sanju Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with the Royals receiving Jadeja and Curran in return. There were already speculations that Jadeja joined RR on the captaincy promise, but during IPL 2025, Riyan Parag stepped in as captain whenever Samson was unavailable.
Parag’s captaincy reportedly led to unrest among some younger players, while Jadeja brings prior captaincy experience, having led CSK in 2022 for almost half of the season, making him the obvious choice for the captaincy.
Ravindra Jadeja or Riyan Parag? Robin Uthappa’s Verdict Delays Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Captaincy Dream
Uthappa believes that the captaincy race is likely between Parag and Jadeja, which could push Jaiswal into a waiting role despite his importance to the franchise. He also highlighted RR’s squad depth, pointing to their wide options across the departments that can lead them to a strong season.
Robin Uthappa said on JioStar’s ‘TATA IPL Auction Review’: “The advantage Rajasthan Royals have is the fact that they have 10 fast bowlers, offering a lot of options. If they bowl in the right areas at SMS Stadium, Jaipur, they can be very successful.
With spinners like Bishnoi and Jadeja, support from Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira, and depth in the batting order with Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, they now have a well-rounded team. The only question is leadership. My feeling is the captaincy will likely be between Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja, while Jaiswal might need to wait a bit longer.”
Anil Kumble Drops a Surprise Name to Fix RR’s Biggest Problem
Meanwhile, Kumble called the leadership the most decisive factor for the Rajasthan Royals’ success. He feels the squad has a good mix of youth, experience, and all-round ability, but clarity around the captain is very important for their turnaround in the next season.
The former Indian head coach has named Dhruv Jurel as the best option for captaincy. Kumble said, “When you look at this lineup, the captaincy will be the most decisive factor. If you want to replicate the kind of personality Sanju Samson brought to Rajasthan Royals, Dhruv Jurel is probably the closest match.”
He signed off by saying, “Beyond that, the squad is strong, with talented youngsters, proven players, and all-rounders. Fitness of key players like Jofra Archer at the start of IPL is also crucial. Ultimately, the management needs to identify and communicate who the captain will be.”
