Speaking to the media on Thursday, Parag made it clear that replacing Samson is no straightforward task. “Sanju’s game is unique; he cannot be compared to anyone else. It is like asking, ‘Who is Virat Kohli’s replacement?’ — it simply isn’t possible,” he said. “However, every player plays to win, and everyone has different capabilities.”Parag also reflected on the team’s shortcomings last season, particularly in crunch moments. “We were losing matches in the final stages. Had we played with more freedom — or managed to hit a boundary at a crucial moment, or prevented the opposition from doing so — we would have progressed further. This time, we are addressing and rectifying those mistakes,” he added.New-look Royals bank on balance, all-round strengthThe RR skipper emphasised that the team has worked on building a balanced squad. “We have a good combination of spin and pace bowlers. In batting too, there is a proper mix of right- and left-handers. We have high expectations from Ravindra Jadeja; he is a magnificent all-rounder,” Parag said.On the question of venues and home advantage, Parag dismissed any added pressure. “Regardless of the venue, there’s always a mixed crowd. We tune out the noise and focus on our game. Our goal is to perform well, wherever we play.”Head coach Kumar Sangakkara echoed confidence in the squad’s depth and future prospects, especially young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. “He is very young but showing magnificent form. He is a vital part of the team, and we have a specific strategy for him,” Sangakkara said.

However, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir later advised Tharoor that Samson did not need to emulate anyone else and would instead forge his own path. Gambhir, even before becoming India’s head coach, had consistently backed Samson. In 2020, he had called him “not just the best wicketkeeper-batsman in India, but the best young batsman in India.”“Years later, Gambhir corrected me, saying he does not need to be the next Dhoni; he will be the one and only Sanju Samson — and that is exactly what he has become,” Tharoor added.Dhoni remains the benchmark for wicketkeeper-batters, arriving at the international stage as a big-hitting top-order batter before becoming one of India’s finest middle-order finishers and captains, winning all three major ICC white-ball trophies.Samson, meanwhile, had struggled with form in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and was even benched before returning for the crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe. He then followed that performance with three consecutive half-centuries: 97* against West Indies, 89 against England, and 89 against New Zealand in the final, consistently anchoring India’s innings and guiding them to defend the title.“He has been a terrific success — quiet, modest, unpretentious, and an effective leader,” Tharoor said. “He has led Rajasthan Royals very well for years and brought stability to India’s top order. Even during his difficult phases, I always felt that if he composed himself, his core talent would shine through.”Recalling Samson’s semi-final and final displays, Tharoor added, “In both matches, he reached 89 before being dismissed while selflessly playing big shots for the team. He could have played conservatively, but he chose to accelerate, showing the selfless, talented, and dedicated nature of Sanju Samson.”

Sanju Samson’s record-breaking T20 World Cup 2026 campaign

Sanju Samson’s stellar campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 has rewritten the record books. In just five innings, he scored 321 runs, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record of 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup for the most runs by an Indian in a T20 World Cup, and set a new benchmark for the most sixes in a single World Cup with 24.Samson also broke multiple other records, including the most runs for India in consecutive innings, the most runs in T20 World Cup knockout matches, and the highest score for India in a T20 World Cup final and in a chase. His blend of power-hitting, composure under pressure, and match-winning instincts made him the standout performer of the tournament. With these feats, Samson not only helped India clinch their third T20 World Cup title but also elevated himself into the elite echelon of T20 cricket legends.

Young batting core under the spotlight In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra’, he noted that RR’s batting core heavily features young names such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel. “You can call it weaknesses or challenges. The batting lineup is extremely young. Yashasvi Jaiswal is experienced, but he is still young. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is hitting a lot, but he is a young kid. Dhruv Jurel has immense potential, but he is still unproven in the IPL because he hasn’t scored runs there,” he said. Experience gap a growing concern Chopra also pointed out that while Riyan Parag has shown promise, he is yet to establish himself at the international level. He added that Shimron Hetmyer’s role could be compromised, as RR may not be able to utilise him in his preferred batting position. Notably, Parag is set to captain the Royals in the IPL 2026 season. “Riyan Parag has shown a lot of promise and potential, but he is not an established international star. Shimron Hetmyer is there for sure, but the number at which he batted for the West Indies isn’t available. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to play him there. Donovan Ferreira has limited international experience,” he elaborated. Summing up the batting concerns, Chopra stressed that while there is plenty of promise, the lack of international exposure across the top order could prove tricky. “When I look at the top six, a lot of potential is seen, but international experience is very, very limited, except for Shimron Hetmyer, for whom they will not be able to give the number at which he has been successful. So that is a bit of a challenge,” Chopra observed. Hetmyer, notably, was one of the standout performers for West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 248 runs at a strike rate of 186.46 in seven innings while batting at No. 3 — a role he is unlikely to reprise for RR. Spin attack faces form concerns Chopra also identified spin bowling as another area of concern, citing the recent form of key players. “The spin bowling stocks have gone up for sure, but the current form is a slight issue, and that is a bit of a concern. It might not be a concern, but I am looking at it as a challenge. Ravi Bishnoi’s last year was extremely cold. That’s why he was released. A great addition, but recent form is not great,” he said. He further added that Jadeja, despite his pedigree, has not been at his best in terms of wicket-taking in the T20 format over the past couple of seasons. “Ravindra Jadeja, again a great addition, but his current form in T20 cricket, from a wicket-taking ability perspective, is not great if you look at his bowling for CSK for the last two years. So you have two good spinners for sure, but their current form is not their friend. You can see that as a challenge,” Chopra observed. Bishnoi managed nine wickets in 11 innings during IPL 2025, conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.83. Jadeja, meanwhile, picked up 10 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy rate of 8.56 last season.