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List of Rajasthan Royals Captains (Image source: X)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have always been a team with a flair for the unpredictable. From the first season of the IPL, they’ve been the team to watch, not because they’re always the strongest, but because they’ve got this knack for pulling off the impossible.
From underdog wins to nail-biting finishes, or finding unknown talents and turning them into stars, RR has always been a team full of surprises. And at the heart of it all are their captains: some legends, some quiet heroes, but all unique in their own way. Let’s take a closer look at RR captains and briefly discuss their current captain.
List of All RR Captains
| Captain | Span | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied/ No Result | Win % | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne | 2008-2011 | 56 | 31 | 24 | 1/0 | 55.35 | Champions (2008) |
| Shane Watson | 2008-2015 | 21 | 7 | 11 | 2/1 | 33.33 | Playoffs (2015) |
| Rahul Dravid | 2012-2013 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 0/0 | 57.50 | Playoffs (2013) |
| Steve Smith | 2014-2020 | 27 | 15 | 11 | 0/1 | 55.55 | 8th place (2020) |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 2018-2019 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 0/0 | 37.50 | Playoffs (2018) |
| Sanju Samson | 2021-2024 | 61 | 31 | 29 | 0/1 | 50.81 | Runners-up (2022) |
| Riyan Parag | 2025-Present | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0/0 | 25 | - |
Rajasthan Royals Captain 2025
Riyan Parag (2025-Present)
Riyan Parag current captain of RR in IPL 2025 (iplt20)
As Sanju Samson struggled with fitness at the start of the IPL 2025, Riyan Parag was named the interim captain. After a breakout season in the previous edition, Parag stood as the top choice for Rahul Dravid and Co.
The 23-year-old indeed comes in with a brief experience as the Assam captain in the Indian Domestic circuit. However, the 18th edition has been filled with ups and downs for the captain. His team struggled with form and spirit, often looking uninspired and far from winning ways.
While everything looked going south for RR, the captain stood up and produced a memorable innings. This knock further solidified Parag’s bold image as a player, with commentators like Sanjay Manjrekar comparing him with the iconic MS Dhoni.
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FAQs: Rajasthan Royals Captains
Q.1. How many captains of Rajasthan Royals are there?
Answer: In the history on IPL, RR has had 7 captains in total, namely, Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, Sanju Samson, and, at present, Riyan Parag.
Q.2. Why is Sanju Samson not captain?
Answer: Before the start of IPL 2025, it was confirmed that Riyan Parag will be the stand-in captain for RR for the initial matches. However, Samson, who had just returned from a thumb injury, experienced abdominal pain and underwent scans that determined the severity of his injury. Hence, Parag continued the captaincy in his absence.
Q.3. Who is the best captain in Rajasthan Royals?
Answer: Sanju has led the Royals in 62 matches, winning 32 and losing 29. Sanju Samson is Rajasthan Royals' most successful captain in the IPL. In 2024, he went past Shane Warne's record of leading the Rajasthan Royals in the most number of matches. Samson is also the only Royals captain to have led the team into two playoffs in the cash-rich cricket league.
Q.4. Why was RR banned?
Answer: In 2015, the team was banned for two years following the Lodha Committee inquiry. It was revealed that only two shareholders, Ranjit Barthakur and Fraser Castellino, were involved, and this wasn’t disclosed to the BCCI, which led to the ban.
Q.5. Who is the youngest player in Rajasthan Royals?
Answer: Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes the youngest player in IPL history; kicks off career in sensational style. The 14-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter made his IPL debut as an Impact Player against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur and got off the mark with a six.
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