Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Former India skipper questions Royals’ bold leadership call despite Parag’s inconsistent record
A fresh controversy has erupted ahead of IPL 2026 after former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth openly questioned Riyan Parag’s appointment as captain of Rajasthan Royals. Calling the decision surprising, Srikkanth remarked that Parag appears to be “treated like a king” within the franchise, sparking intense debate among cricket fans.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth hinted that the 24-year-old may have received special backing from the management. He pointed out that while Parag showed flashes of brilliance in earlier seasons, his recent performances have been inconsistent, raising questions over his elevation to captaincy.
The Royals named Parag as skipper following a high-profile trade that saw Sanju Samson move to Chennai Super Kings in a deal worth Rs 18 crore. The trade also brought stars like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran into the Royals’ squad, making the captaincy decision even more surprising.
Srikkanth questioned why experienced players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel were overlooked. He also highlighted Parag’s previous stint as stand-in captain, where the team managed just two wins in eight matches.
Despite criticism, Parag’s individual performance last season was notable. He scored 393 runs at a blistering strike rate of 166.52 and created history by smashing six consecutive sixes in an innings against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025.
Looking ahead, Srikkanth believes Rajasthan Royals have the potential to upset big teams but lack consistency. While he praised the opening pair of Jaiswal and Suryavanshi, he concluded that the team remains unpredictable and only a “50-50” contender for playoff qualification in IPL 2026.