Riyan Parag embraces captaincy for Rajasthan Royals

Guwahati: Riyan Parag, who started his Indian Premier League (IPL) career with the Rajasthan Royals at just 17, has seen his value soar. He was bought for Rs 20 lakh and retained for Rs 14 crore ahead of last year's mega auction. Now, he is set to lead the team as a stand-in captain for the first three games this season. Regular captain Sanju Samson is currently playing as a batter due to injuries. Riyan expressed his gratitude and excitement about his new role. He mentioned, "It's a big thing for me. My journey has been great. The trust of the team management and players has been amazing, even without much captaincy experience." His only previous captaincy was with the Assam state team. Riyan was not surprised by the captaincy decision. He prepared mentally for this role ahead of the season. After losing the opening match to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 44 runs, he reflected on the team's strategy. "We had a meeting about the wicket and the combination we need to play. We just need to execute better," he said. Looking ahead to their first home game, Riyan feels confident. He emphasized that despite the loss, he was not intimidated by chasing a big score. "Cricket is a game of uncertainty, and on certain days, things don't go your way," he added.