Why is Riyan Parag not captaining Rajasthan Royals today?

Sanju Samson is back in charge of Rajasthan Royals for their IPL 2025 clash against Punjab Kings, ending Riyan Parag’s short three-match spell as stand-in captain. 

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Fit again, Samson reclaims the role

Samson had missed the start of the season due to a thumb injury. Although the National Cricket Academy cleared him to bat, he wasn’t allowed to keep wickets. As a result, he played only as an Impact Player while Dhruv Jurel took over behind the stumps and Riyan Parag led the side.

Now fully fit, Samson returns to lead the team and resume wicketkeeping duties. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in a pre-match interview,  Samson said it had been ‘a different experience’  watching from the dugout but he was ‘excited to be back’ in a regular playing role. 

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Parag’s short stint ends

Parag, who has been part of the Royals setup since 2019, stepped in as captain in Samson’s absence. Under his leadership, RR lost their first two games before securing a win against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.

While Parag showed confidence in the role, his time as captain also included a fine for a slow over rate He also said he always tries to think like a captain — telling media recently, ‘I always think like a captain, even when I’m not officially leading’—his leadership also drew scrutiny, including a fine for a slow over rate. 

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Crucial match for Rajasthan Royals

The Royals entered this game placed ninth on the IPL 2025 points table, needing a win to regain momentum. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, have made a strong start to their campaign with two wins in two matches and will look to extend their lead at the top.

Solid start with the bat

Rajasthan made a strong start with the bat after being put in to bat first. Sanju Samson opened with a boundary and narrowly avoided a run-out early on. Yashasvi Jaiswal settled in quickly, attacking Arshdeep Singh and then hitting two sixes off Marco Jansen. 

He continued the aggressive approach by taking on Lockie Ferguson as well. The pair brought up a 50-run stand, giving RR a steady platform in the powerplay.