Ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline last month, a high-profile transfer deal took place involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

As part of the trade agreement, Sanju Samson joined CSK while RR received the services of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

Since making his IPL debut in 2013, Samson represented the Royals in all but two seasons—2016 and 2017—when he played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

The wicketkeeper batter’s record as RR skipper is 33 wins and 33 losses in 67 matches, making him the most successful captain for the franchise. Under his leadership, the team reached their first IPL final since 2008 in 2022 and has qualified for the playoffs twice.

With Samson’s trade to CSK, the inaugural IPL champions suddenly find themselves seeking a new captain. And the top candidate for the leadership role is Riyan Parag, who donned the skipper’s hat for RR in eight matches last season when Samson was injured.

While Riyan knows he is among the leading contenders, he is not letting the captaincy talk distract him.

“I captained in seven to eight matches in the IPL last season. In the dressing room, when we would analyse decisions, I have done things right 80 to 85 per cent," Riyan said while speaking to Sportstar.

“Manoj [Badale] sir has said the decision [on captaincy] will be taken after the auction. If I think about that now, I will ruin my mental space. If the team management feels I am the right fit for captaincy, I am ready to put my hand up. If they feel that, as a player, I can contribute more, I am ready for that also,” he added.

Riyan also highlighted the unseen workload that comes with IPL captaincy. “Everyone has the misconception that captaincy is easy. Yes, there is an element of fame in captaincy, but it reduces the element of cricket to 20 per cent. You have to attend all the meetings, attend sponsor shoots, and answer the media. I need to develop these things as a person.”

As he gears up to join the Royals’ senior leadership group, Riyan Parag acknowledged that he will miss Samson.

“I don’t want to think about his [Samson’s] absence, because then I will feel bad. I was very close to Sanju bhaiya when I came into the team. He never let me feel that I was a 17 or 18-year-old boy from Assam. He also came from that background, at 16-18, and helped me the way he would have been helped at that time. In the last two years, he would give me vice-captaincy in Jos bhai’s absence. He would ask me to talk to the bowlers and attend team meetings, and take the lead,” Parag remarked.

Samson moved to CSK at his existing fee of ₹18 crore while Jadeja took a salary cut to return to his former franchise. The seasoned all-rounder’s league fee has now been revised from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore. Curran’s 2.4-crore deal remains unchanged.