Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikanth has sparked a debate on this. Ryan Prague The captain is being appointed. Rajasthan Royals Ahead of IPL 2026, it suggests the 24-year-old could benefit from preferential support within the franchise.Parag is set to take over the leadership role from Sanju Samson, who was traded. Chennai Super Kings 18 crore in a high profile deal Ravindra Jadeja And Sam Curran went in the opposite direction before the mini-auction last December.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikanth questioned the decision to hand Parag the captaincy over more established names in the squad. “Everybody knows how he became captain. It’s his decision but he is treated like a king there. Prague didn’t have a good season last year, but last year, he performed brilliantly. Last year, he didn’t do anything fatal,” he said.After Samson was out last season due to injury, Parag has already led the Royals in eight games, winning just two. Despite this record, the franchise supported him over other contenders such as Yeshsavi JaiswalDhruv Jaril and the newly acquired Jadeja.However, Parag’s individual performances gave glimpses of his attacking prowess. He scored 393 runs at a strike rate of 166.52 last season and also made IPL history by becoming the first player to hit six consecutive sixes in a single innings, achieving the milestone against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025.After being selected as a teenager in IPL 2017, Parag has been a consistent presence for Rajasthan Royals. In 84 matches, he has scored 1,566 runs, including seven half-centuries, although the inconsistency has often been the subject of debate.Assessing Royals’ prospects, Srikanth offered a mixed view. While recognizing their potential, he warned of their unpredictability. “This is a decent side. They have the ability to trouble sides. But they are also a side that will self-destruct. Still, if two of their top five click, they will tear the opposition apart. The Jaiswal-Suryavanshi opening stand is their biggest plus. They alone have the ability to win matches. So they are a good side but not dangerous. They are not a championship winning team. They are also 50-50 for play-off qualification,” he said.
