“Riyan Parag Highlights Sanju Samson’s Influence During Toss Against SRH” | Cricket News

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Riyan Parag Honors Sanju Samson During IPL 2026 Toss

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag expressed his deep respect for former captain Sanju Samson during the toss for the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Toss: Strategic Insights from Riyan Parag

After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Parag stated, “We will be bowling first. A new wicket for us, first time it has been used this season. Hopefully, there is some stickiness at the start.” He added, “We have chased down a lot of totals here and fell short in 2024, so hopefully that won’t be the case this time.” He also mentioned two changes to the team lineup.

Reflecting on Leadership and Growth

Sharing his journey to the leadership position, Parag noted, “It has been a journey. I was under (Sanju Samson) Bhaiya for the longest time. Kumar Sangakkara has greatly improved my decision-making and involved me in tactical and strategic meetings. I am taking on the responsibility now and making tough calls, but I’m happy to be here.”

Rajasthan Royals Captaincy Transition

Parag was appointed as the captain of Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 following Samson’s trade to Chennai Super Kings. In a parallel development, Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Ishan Kishan also made changes to his team lineup.

Ishan Kishan Discusses Leadership Experience

Kishan shared his thoughts on leadership during the toss, stating, “I’ve been doing this for a long time, leading the Under-19 India team and my state team. It makes you more aware of the game situation and focused on teamwork.” He emphasized the growth he has experienced as a leader and how it has contributed positively to his performance.

Team Lineups for the IPL Clash

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (w), Riyan Parag (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI)

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga.

Impact Subs for Both Teams

Rajasthan Royals Impact Subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Brijesh Sharma.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Impact Subs: Smaran Ravichandran, Sakib Hussain, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel.

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