Riyan Parag is appointed as the brand new captain of the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. This represents an evident shift towards a youthful staff following Sanju Samson’s entry into the Chennai Tremendous Kings. At simply 24 years previous, Parag turns into the seventh full-time captain in franchise historical past.
The Royals have, over time, put their religion in an assortment of leaders: the previous, seasoned ones with that calm, calculating air, and the younger weapons who seem to convey uncooked vitality to the staff. And info can be figures to examine, trophies to rely, streaks to debate, however it isn’t about these issues we are going to recall: the unexpected over time, the last-ball thriller, the truth that the pink jersey appears to flutter within the dry wind of Jaipur, nearly as if it had a persona of its personal.
And, so, in case we have an interest, right here is the checklist of captains of Rajasthan Royals from 2008 as much as 2026. It’s all current: the time period, the report numbers, the performances that made the person eras memorable. And truthfully? Continuity, change, a bizarre feeling of all of it comes as we learn by way of it.
Much like the act of flipping by way of an historical picture album the place some faces could be acknowledged, others can catch one off guard, and the remainder of them appear to be a continuation of a single story.
Full Record of Rajasthan Royals Captains
| Captain | Years | Matches | Wins | Losses | Win Fee |
| Shane Warne | 2008–2011 | 56 | 31 | 25 | 55.36% |
| Rahul Dravid | 2012–2013 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 57.50% |
| Shane Watson | 2014–2015 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 33.33% |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 2018–2019 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 37.50% |
| Steve Smith | 2014, 2019–2020 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 55.55% |
| Sanju Samson | 2021–2025 | 67 | 33 | 34 | 49.25% |
| Riyan Parag (Interim) | 2025 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25.00% |
| Riyan Parag | 2026–Current | — | — | — | — |
1. Shane Warne (2008–2011)
Matches: 56 | Wins: 31 | Win Fee: 55.36%
The primary captain of the Rajasthan Royals, the legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne, established the muse for the staff’s long-term imaginative and prescient and underdog picture. He had by no means been a daily captain of Australia, however his intensive worldwide expertise made him an computerized choice.
Through the first season of the IPL in 2008, he served as captain and coach, main a staff of unknowns, promising kids, and inexperienced home gamers to the championship in opposition to star-studded franchises. He completed what many believed to be unattainable.
Warne invested all his energies within the IPL after he retired from worldwide cricket. He created match-winners amongst younger cricketers at will, reworking uncared for skills into stars by way of his inspirational management and tactical genius.
The cricketer’s management emphasised supporting the underestimated younger gamers and making them imagine in themselves. He put in place the Moneyball technique that turned the franchise’s DNA.
Gamers equivalent to Ravindra Jadeja, Sohail Tanvir, Ajinkya Rahane and Naman Ojha grew into higher cricketers for his or her nation and state below his tutelage, demonstrating that Warne might establish and develop uncooked expertise.
Between 2008 and 2011, Warne led 56 video games for the Royals, successful 31, and a win fee of 55.36. His strategic prowess, human administration, and skill to extract one of the best from lesser-known cricketers had a long-lasting affect. He additionally held the report for many wins as captain of the Rajasthan Royals, with 14 years, till Sanju Samson broke it within the 2025 IPL.
The 2008 victory is without doubt one of the finest underdog tales in cricket historical past, and Warne’s affect was felt even after his retirement, as he helped the Royals with their recruitment technique, staff tradition, and imaginative and prescient for future generations.
2. Rahul Dravid (2012–2013)
Matches: 40 | Wins: 23 | Win Fee: 57.50%
Shane Warne was changed by Rahul Dravid because the captain of the Rajasthan Royals in 2012. He launched calmness, tactical accuracy and group to the staff. At 39, he turned the oldest captain within the franchise that season, moving into the management function after a full yr as Warne’s deputy.
He propelled the thought of a nurturing environment for younger expertise. He was capable of mix his expertise with long-term planning. Though his first season as captain noticed the Royals end seventh, the muse he laid would quickly repay.
The Royals recovered in 2013, putting them third within the league stage and reaching the playoffs. Underneath Dravid’s regular management, the staff reached the Champions League Twenty20 remaining, ending as runners-up after a loss to the Mumbai Indians.
Statistically, Dravid is essentially the most profitable Royals captain by way of win share. He gained 23 of his 40 matches, a 57.5 % success fee, the best amongst all Royals captains.
Past his on‑discipline contributions, Dravid developed right into a mentor who helped form the longer term stars of the franchise. His professionalism, self-discipline and tactical sense have strengthened the Royals as a staff centered on growth and competitiveness.
Finishing a full circle in his affiliation with the franchise, Dravid returned as head coach of the Rajasthan Royals earlier than IPL 2025 and left a yr later.
3. Shane Watson (2014–2015)
Matches: 21 | Wins: 7 | Win Fee: 33.33%
The Australian all-rounder Shane Watson changed Rahul Dravid as captain of the Rajasthan Royals and took over at first of a tough transition that started in IPL 2014.
Watson headed 21 video games in two seasons, seven of which he gained, the worst win fee of all long-term franchise heads. However numbers are poor with out his contact. He proved he might ship on the proper time, and the Royals made it to the playoffs within the 2015 IPL.
Within the first yr, Watson centered on unity and household tradition. Nicely, we’re a big household, and that’s all as easy as it’s, he stated. All of us, the house owners, managers, to our gamers, imagine that we’re there to handle one another. The tradition of this family-first angle was based on the values of Shane Warne and Dravid, and it was an indication of Watson’s want to protect the membership’s tradition.
His bat and general recreation made him the pure chief on the sphere. The fearless right-hander earned respect for his depth and never-say-die angle, and made the facet aggressive even throughout unsure instances.
Watson’s tenure was not terminated as a result of efficiency however due to a scenario past the sphere of cricket. The Royals had been additionally banned by the IPL from enjoying for 2 years after the spot-fixing scandal verdict, which adopted the 2015 season.
His win report was inferior to his predecessors’, however Watson maintained the Royals’ aggressive benefit and playoff {qualifications} in a turbulent period. His administration maintained the tradition and identification of the staff and made the franchise steady earlier than it was forcibly placed on hiatus.
4. Ajinkya Rahane (2018–2019)
Matches: 24 | Wins: 9 | Win Fee: 37.50%
In 2018, Ajinkya Rahane turned the captain of the Rajasthan Royals of their comeback to the IPL after two years of suspension. He was charged with the duty of rebuilding confidence. He led the facet to the playoffs of their comeback season—a notable achievement that re-established the franchise’s competitiveness.
The Royals ended the 2018 season of IPL fourth, having gained 4 out of their remaining 5 league video games earlier than shedding to Kolkata Knight Riders within the playoffs.
Steve Smith gave Rahane a praise of being a real Royal, and the 2018 marketing campaign was among the finest comebacks within the league. Rahane was recognized to be a peaceful particular person and a tactician, and labored on stability and staff cohesion in the course of the delicate interval of rebuilding.
Regardless of a mid-2019 downturn that led to a change of captain, Rahane’s low-profile management was instrumental in getting the Royals again into the IPL and rebuilding their fame.
SUGGESTED READ: RR Crew for IPL 2026: Full Squad of Rajasthan Royals
5. Steve Smith (2014, 2019–2020)
Matches: 27 | Wins: 15 | Win Fee: 55.55%
The Rajasthan Royals had been led by former Australian captain Steve Smith at completely different levels. His first intervention was as a stand-in skipper instead of Shane Watson within the 201415 season. He subsequently took over Ajinkya Rahane midway by way of IPL 2019, then changed him for a complete season in 2020.
Smith managed the Royals in 27 video games, of which he gained 15, a 55.55% win fee – the second-best in franchise historical past, solely Rahul Dravid being higher. His fast considering offered tactical perception with clever discipline positions, swift bowling adjustments and composed recreation management in a disaster.
The Royals completed final in 2020 regardless of their sturdy private monitor report. The franchise selected a youthful, long-term Indian captain, indicating a strategic change somewhat than a scarcity of tactical talent on Smith’s half.
6. Sanju Samson (2021–2025)
Matches: 67 | Wins: 33 | Win Fee: 49.25%
Sanju Samson is now essentially the most prolific captain in Rajasthan Royals historical past, having changed Steve Smith in 2021 on the age of 26.
In 5 seasons in a row, the wicket-keeper batsman served the franchise within the report 67 matches, greater than some other Royals skipper, and gained 33 of them. He overtook Shane Warne in essentially the most matches captained in 2024, and he overtook Warne within the all-time checklist of most wins in 2025, making him essentially the most profitable chief of the staff by way of wins.
His finest captaincy was in 2022 in the course of the IPL, when Rajasthan reached its first remaining in 14 years since 2008.
The Royals had been second within the league section with 9 wins in 14 matches, however they misplaced the title match to the Gujarat Titans. In IPL 2024, they made a comeback to the playoffs, ending third with 17 factors, beating Royal Challengers Bengaluru within the Eliminator and shedding to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2. They missed the playoffs in 2023, ending fifth. Samson is the one captain within the Royals who has made it to the playoffs twice within the historical past of IPL.
Sampson is called a chic batsman with a cool manner, a younger expertise nurturer, a excessive morale throughout robust instances, and a decisive tactical participant. His 2026 commerce to the Chennai Tremendous Kings marked the emotional conclusion of his 11-season tenure as Jaipur captain, spanning 5 seasons.
Regardless of his 49.25 per cent victory ratio pointing to the problem of a protracted tenure, his function in shaping the identification of the Royals and their remaining competitiveness makes him an important modern-day chief within the historical past of Rajasthan.
7. Riyan Parag (2025 interim, 2026–current)
Interim Document (2025): 8 matches | 2 wins | Win Fee: 25%
Riyan Parag began his IPL 2025 profession as a substitute for the injured Sanju Samson, serving because the captain of the Rajasthan Royals. Samson was unable to play wickets or discipline, so Parag performed the primary matches in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Tremendous Kings.
The Assam all-rounder was the youngest captain in Royals historical past (and the fifth-youngest in IPL historical past) at solely 23 years previous, and the youngest within the historical past of the Royals to carry the place of captain, even in his first season as RR captain.
Through the eight video games as interim captain, the Royals posted a 25% win fee, with two wins and 6 losses. Though the staff was not performing nicely, Parag impressed as a person, averaging 38.57 on the plate and being credited with staying calm below stress.
The stint was an interview for a long run management place. On February 13, 2026, the 24-year-old was the primary full-time captain of IPL 2026 within the historical past of the Rajasthan Royals. With 1,566 Royals runs, a breakout 573-run season in 2024, Parag is a homegrown chief who was developed throughout the system of the franchise.
The Royals have a refreshed squad with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran after the defection of Samson to the Chennai Tremendous Kings, and this is a sign of the religion that the Royals have in younger management and their long-term philosophy of nurturing younger expertise in direction of a second IPL title.
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FAQS
1. Who’s the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026?
The current captain is Riyan Parag, who was formally appointed on February 13, 2026, on the age of 24. He’s the seventh full-time captain after Sanju Samson was offered to the Chennai Tremendous Kings. Parag was additionally the interim captain of 8 matches in IPL 2025.
2. Who has essentially the most wins and the best successful share as captain of the Rajasthan Royals?
Sanju Samson is the participant with the best variety of wins (33 out of 67) (2021-2025). Rahul Dravid nevertheless, has the best share of wins at 57.50% (23 wins out of 40 matches, 2012-2013) then Steve Smith with 55.55% and Shane Warne with 55.36%.
3. Who was the primary captain of the Rajasthan Royals and what was his efficiency?
The primary captain (2008-2011) was Shane Warne and he took the staff to the IPL 2008 finals with a staff of unknown and home skills. He additionally gained 31 out of 56 video games (55.36% win fee) and created the Moneyball philosophy of the franchise. He had 14 years of win report earlier than it was damaged by Samson in 2025.
4. What’s the variety of captains who’ve taken Rajasthan Royals to the IPL playoffs?
5 captains have made it to the playoffs: Shane Warne (2008 champions), Rahul Dravid (2013 playoffs and CLT20 remaining), Shane Watson (2015), Ajinkya Rahane (2018) and Sanju Samson (2022 remaining and 2024 playoffs). Samson is the one RR captain who has made it to the playoffs twice.
