The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are searching for a replacement for Sanju Samson, who led the side in the last five editions. Hence, Yashasvi Jaiswal as RR captain is one of the options debated by the cricket fraternity ahead of IPL 2026. Samson was traded to the Chennai Super Kings in exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Now, the Royals are without their captain, who helped them qualify on two out of five occasions. Let’s take a detailed look at Jaiswal’s candidacy as the Rajasthan Royals new captain in 2026 and his potential competitors for the role.

Is It Too Early to Elect Yashasvi Jaiswal as RR Captain?

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his IPL debut in 2020, where he scored only 40 runs in three innings. The southpaw gave an account of his talent by hitting 249 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 148.21 in the subsequent edition. As a result, he was retained by the RR team management. Jaiswal had a mediocre season in 2022, scoring 258 runs at a strike rate of 132.93, with two fifties. However, 2023 proved to be the most successful campaign for him, as he launched a sensational attack against the opposition bowlers. He smashed 625 runs at an average of 48.07 and a strike rate of 163.61, while also registering his maiden century.

First men’s cricket match in Asian Games for 🇮🇳
First T20I ton for Yashasvi Jaiswal 👏 #JaisBallDay pic.twitter.com/cbHrWc3hC4

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 28, 2025

During the same season, Jaiswal registered the fastest fifty in IPL off 13 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders. His superb performance resulted in him making his international debut. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a major force to reckon with in the last two editions as well, scoring 435 runs and 559 runs, respectively. He has led the side from the front with his positive intent, which has helped RR to get quick starts and gain a psychological advantage in the power play. Moreover, the 24-year-old can adjust his tempo in the middle overs and has an equal ability against pace as well as spin. He can be a perfect partner for the youngster, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has set IPL on fire with his ball-striking abilities.

However, the question arises of whether Yashasvi Jaiswal is a natural replacement for Sanju Samson. Beginning his IPL career with the Royals, Jaiswal has a knowledge of the team environment and the mindset. He is a key figure in the batting department who has been retained in the last two mega auctions. But Jaiswal hasn’t led any side in his career so far. During Samson’s tenure, batter Riyan Parag served as the vice-captain. The selection of Yashasvi Jaiswal as RR captain could be a wrong move, as he would be under pressure to deliver with relatively fresh faces in the roster. With no captaincy experience under his belt, Jaiswal needs to be groomed first, and then the baton should be passed on to him in the coming years. For IPL 2026, the left-hander could be a vice-captain to get accustomed to taking strong decisions in crunch moments and also learn the art of bowling changes.

Who Are The Other Contenders for RR Captaincy?

The other contenders for Rajasthan Royals new captain in 2026 could be Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja. Parag emerges as a strong option for being chosen as the RR captain for the IPL 2026 season. He was the finest batter for the Royals in IPL 2024, slamming 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21. The 24-year-old has led the side on eight occasions in the absence of Sanju Samson, while securing victories in only two of them. He is actively leading the Assam side on the domestic side, which can be helpful for him in the cash-rich league. Parag can be a long-term replacement for Sanju Samson if he can remain calm while making decisions. He is an asset for the side in all three departments, as he can bowl a few overs and is a gun fielder.

4th fifty plus score in five innings for Dhruv Jurel 👌💗 pic.twitter.com/NH39ItrN9H

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 3, 2026

Dhruv Jurel is another reliable option as the Rajasthan Royals new captain in 2026 due to his ability to win matches single-handedly. The keeper-batter can hold the innings together with his wide arsenal of shots and can soak up the pressure better than others. As he will be a gloveman for RR, he could provide a strong input to the bowlers on how to deceive the batters.

🔜 Thalapathy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xPPX5z3Sco

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 4, 2026

Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has made his comeback to RR after playing for the franchise in the 2008-09 season. Despite a proven ability to win IPL finals for his side, Jadeja is not trusted as a leader. During IPL 2022, he passed on the CSK captaincy baton to MS Dhoni, after the side secured only two wins in eight games under him.

Our Thought

Overall, Riyan Parag looks like a promising contender as RR captain for IPL 2026 ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal as RR captain. He has been part of the side since 2019 and will have no adaptability issues despite the addition of fresh faces. His captaincy might fuel energy into the side to play with positive intent.