Rajasthan Royals have done remarkably well in their IPL 2026 campaign, winning five out of seven matches. The top three batters and the bowling unit have been highly effective, resulting in them being third on the points table. However, ahead of the second half of the season, attention has increasingly turned toward captain Riyan Parag, who has failed to live up to his potential.ย
Despite leading effectively on the field, the 24-year-old has struggled to convert starts into meaningful contributions. His tally stands at 81 runs from seven innings, with no score exceeding 20, which has put him under the scanner. While those numbers contrast with the teamโs overall success, the management has shown no signs of concern over his role or approach.
Head coach Kumar Sangakkara addressed the situation ahead of the sideโs upcoming fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, expressing confidence in Paragโs rhythm at the crease.
โI think heโs batting really well. When youโre batting well, sometimes you donโt always score. I would have been concerned if he wasnโt hitting the ball well. I think heโs hitting it really well. He just needs to stitch together a few more runs so that he sets himself a good platform to attack in the end,โ Sangakkara told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
Sangakkara expects Parag to get better as batter
The former Sri Lanka captain also emphasised the franchiseโs belief in Parag, highlighting his growth in leadership despite the scrutiny that accompanies the role.
โAs a player, as a batter, the franchise backs him 100 per cent. And whatโs really exciting for me is to see how he has just embraced the captaincy and the leadership. And you can see even in the last game how good a captain he was. So, I think he will learn more and more about pressure, and he will get better,” he added.
Meanwhile, Parag has found his most success while batting at number three for Rajasthan. This season, the team management trusted Dhruv Jurel for the role. They should now analyse if that has impacted Paragโs performances.ย
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