Riyan Parag lost his first two matches as RR captain |courtesy - BCCI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Riyan Parag is the 7th player to lead Rajasthan Royals
- Sanju Samson is playing as a specialist batter
- Parag is yet to win a match
Riyan Parag's first match as captain in front of his home fans at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati proved to be a nightmare as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered their second straight defeat in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a thumping eight-wicket victory.
Parag, the first male cricketer from Assam to play for the Indian cricket team, also became the first player from the state to lead an IPL franchise on Sunday (March 23) when he took charge of the team against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). For those unversed, Parag is the 7th player to captain the Royals in history after Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, and Sanju Samson.
Parag is leading RR in the first three matches of the 2025 season due to regular captain Samson nursing a finger injury, which means he cannot field or keep wickets. The 30-year-old has featured in both matches but only as an impact player while the Royals are batting.
Riyan Parag Sets Embarrassing Record
Parag is the first player in the history of the franchise to lose his first two matches as captain. Before the defeat against KKR, the 2008 champions were also beaten by SRH by a 44-run margin. In that match, the Parag-led RR side conceded a massive total of 286, which was the second-highest in IPL history.
Rajasthan Royals Captains Record After First Two Matches
| Player |
Record |
| Shane Warne |
1 Win, 1 Loss |
| Shane Watson |
1 Win, 1 Loss |
| Rahul Dravid |
2 Wins, 0 Losses |
| Steve Smith |
2 Wins, 0 Losses |
| Ajinkya Rahane |
1 Win, 1 Loss |
| Sanju Samson |
1 Win, 1 Loss |
| Riyan Parag |
0 Wins, 2 Losses |
Parag will also lead the side against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday (March 30) in Guwahati. However, Samson is expected to return as captain for the clash against Punjab Kings on April 5 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
As far as Samson is concerned, he is RR's joint most successful captain with 31 wins alongside Shane Warne. In 2022, Samson became the second captain to lead RR to an IPL final after Warne. The franchise had the inaugural IPL title in 2008 under Warne's leadership.
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