Former India cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has come down hard on Rajasthan Royals’ decision to appoint Riyan Parag as captain despite having the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja.
Parag, who was entrusted with leadership responsibilities in the previous season in the absence of Sanju Samson, had struggled to make a significant impact with the bat. With RR still going ahead with this choice, questions have begun to surface over whether the franchise made the right call by backing the young all-rounder at the helm.
The former CSK batter did not mince words while sharing his assessment, stressing that if an established star like Jaiswal was an obvious captaincy choice for the inaugural IPL champions.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal has represented India so much and is the future of Indian cricket. He is already playing Test and ODI cricket. So, to not back him and go with Riyan Parag is definitely wrong. Probably, Yashasvi Jaiswal doesn’t have any relative who is an owner of RR (sarcasm). I also wonder if RR enticed Jadeja from CSK with captaincy discussions, but later it didn’t materialise,” said Badrinath on his YouTube channel.
Riyan Parag remains one of the most exciting young talents going around in the Indian domestic circuit. His ability to bat and hit sixes at will, while also contributing with the ball makes him a unique asset.
Riyan Parag takes charge as RR captain for IPL 2026
‘Rajasthan Royals is my home’ – Riyan Parag reacts on captaincy appointment
The 24-year-old opened up on his appointment as captain of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 season.
“Rajasthan Royals has been my home in the IPL since day one. This franchise has backed me, developed me, and pushed me to grow every season. To now lead this team is incredibly special, and it’s a responsibility I fully embrace. I’m excited to work alongside our coaches and leadership group to play fearless, smart cricket and make our fans proud,” he was quoted as saying by RR.
Parag has played 83 matches in the IPL, while scoring 1566 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 140. He also has claimed seven wickets, showcasing his all-round ability.
