‘Makes No Sense’: Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Riyan Parag’s Elevation as Rajasthan Royals Captain

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned Rajasthan Royals’ decision to appoint Riyan Parag as captain for IPL 2026, calling the move difficult to justify from a cricketing standpoint.

Despite Rajasthan putting together a fairly solid campaign this season, Manjrekar said the franchise’s long-standing backing of the 24-year-old remains puzzling, especially given his inconsistent returns with the bat since joining the side in 2019.

Parag was also in the spotlight recently after being caught vaping in the dressing room during a match against Punjab Kings, an incident that led to a 25 per cent fine on his match fees.

Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, Manjrekar acknowledged Parag’s confidence and presence but questioned whether his performances have justified the level of trust shown by the franchise.

He also raised concerns over the leadership shift from Sanju Samson to Parag, suggesting the change lacks clear cricketing logic.

Manjrekar added that while Parag’s self-belief sets him apart, it often borders on overconfidence, reflected in his tendency to play high-risk shots even after repeated dismissals.

According to him, this approach has defined much of Parag’s IPL journey—flashes of brilliance interspersed with inconsistency—making his rise to captaincy an “interesting” but questionable decision from the team management.