‘Like replacing Virat Kohli’: Riyan Parag on Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals exit | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘Like replacing Virat Kohli’: Riyan Parag on Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals exit | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘Like replacing Virat Kohli’: Riyan Parag on Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals exit | Cricket News – The Times of India
File pic: Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag (R) with Sanju Samson. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has addressed the biggest talking point ahead of IPL 2026 — the absence of long-time leader and star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson — with a striking comparison that underlines the scale of the void left behind.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson, the face of the franchise for over a decade, represented the Royals across 11 seasons before being traded to Chennai Super Kings, where he will now feature in yellow. In exchange, Rajasthan brought in England all-rounder Sam Curran and veteran Ravindra Jadeja, signalling a shift in team composition.

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Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag watches West Ham vs Man City in London

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.

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Ipl 2026: ‘Riyan Parag yet to establish’: Aakash Chopra’s blunt take on RR’s ‘inexperienced’ IPL 2026 squad | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Ipl 2026: ‘Riyan Parag yet to establish’: Aakash Chopra’s blunt take on RR’s ‘inexperienced’ IPL 2026 squad | Cricket News – The Times of India


Ipl 2026: ‘Riyan Parag yet to establish’: Aakash Chopra’s blunt take on RR’s ‘inexperienced’ IPL 2026 squad | Cricket News – The Times of India
Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag (PTI Photo)

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has flagged potential concerns for Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026, pointing to their youthful and relatively inexperienced batting unit as a key challenge. The Royals made a major call before the auction by trading Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), bringing in Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in return. The Royals also traded Nitish Rana to Delhi Capitals and acquired Donovan Ferreira via a trade.

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Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag watches West Ham vs Man City in London

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.

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Sunil Gavaskar hails Patel’s ‘unbelievable’ fielding at Wankhede: ‘Axar is filling Jadeja’s void well’ | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Sunil Gavaskar hails Patel’s ‘unbelievable’ fielding at Wankhede: ‘Axar is filling Jadeja’s void well’ | Cricket News – The Times of India


Sunil Gavaskar hails Patel’s ‘unbelievable’ fielding at Wankhede: ‘Axar is filling Jadeja’s void well’ | Cricket News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: India legend Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on vice-captain Axar Patel for his breathtaking fielding display in India’s nerve-wracking T20 World Cup semifinal win over England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Gavaskar even compared Axar’s impact in the field to that of Ravindra Jadeja, saying the all-rounder has stepped up to fill the void left by one of India’s greatest fielders.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India had earlier piled up a mammoth 253/7, powered by a blistering knock from Sanju Samson. England’s chase, however, threatened to derail India’s hopes as Jacob Bethell produced a sensational century to keep his side firmly in the contest.

India in T20 World Cup final: Small contributions which had HUGE impact

But Axar’s brilliance in the field repeatedly halted England’s momentum.The first moment of magic came early in the chase when Jasprit Bumrah deceived Harry Brook with a slower delivery. Brook miscued the shot high over cover, and Axar sprinted back nearly 24 metres before diving forward to complete a stunning catch inches above the turf.ALSO READ: Axar Patel picks tougher of his two ‘out of this world’ catches — Watch & choose yours“Axar Patel’s catch to dismiss Harry Brook was unbelievable. Brook can take the game away and you have to grab every chance to get his wicket and Axar did that,” Gavaskar said while speaking on JioHotstar.“He ran 24 meters away from his fielding spot, kept his eyes on the ball, balanced himself and took the catch. Unbelievable stuff.”Axar wasn’t done yet. Later in the innings, when Will Jacks threatened to push England closer to the daunting target alongside Bethell, Axar produced another moment of brilliance. Chasing a sliced shot toward deep point, he ran hard across the turf, grabbed the ball while losing balance near the boundary rope and cleverly relayed it to Shivam Dube, who completed the catch.“He also played a key role in Will Jacks’ dismissal. The Bethell-Jacks partnership was taking the game away. But Axar ran to his left, grabbed the ball and smartly passed it to Shivam Dube,” Gavaskar added.Gavaskar believes Axar’s rise as a complete cricketer mirrors the impact Jadeja once had for India.“With his batting and bowling, Axar is going to be one of India’s great players. We had Ravindra Jadeja before him and Axar is filling that void well,” he said.


Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan among five players dropped from BCCI central contracts | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan among five players dropped from BCCI central contracts | Cricket News – The Times of India


Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan among five players dropped from BCCI central contracts | Cricket News – The Times of India
Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan (X-Cricbuzz)

Several familiar names have been left out as the BCCI announced its central contracts for the 2025–26 season on Monday, with Mohammed Shami, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Ishan Kishan missing out despite being part of the previous cycle. The Board awarded annual retainers to 30 men and 21 women cricketers, categorising them into Groups A, B and C. Notably, the A+ category has been scrapped, a move that has reshaped the contract hierarchy.

T20 World Cup Groups Explained: Who Can Reach the Super 8

Senior stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been placed in Group B, a downgrade that was largely expected following their retirement from Tests and T20Is respectively, effectively making them one-format players. Under the current criteria, which factors in performances and the number of matches played in the preceding season, they were no longer eligible for the top bracket. For the first time in his career, Shubman Gill finds himself in the highest pay grade, as the two-format captain was retained in Group A alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. While the BCCI has not officially disclosed the retainership amounts, Group A was previously valued at Rs 5 crore annually, with Group B and C fetching Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively before the A+ category was abolished. The decision to do away with A+ stems from the fact that Bumrah is now the only player who remains an automatic selection across all formats. The category, introduced during the COA era for all-format excellence, previously featured only Kohli, Rohit, Jadeja and Bumrah. The men’s list has been trimmed from 34 to 30 players, with Shami’s exclusion seen as a strong signal that he may be out of the selectors’ immediate plans. Kishan, Mukesh and Sarfaraz were also dropped after failing to play a single international match during the evaluation period. While Kishan has returned to the T20I setup, that comeback falls in the new cycle. One notable inclusion is Sai Sudharsan, the only new entrant in the senior men’s contract list. On the women’s side, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma retained their Group A status, while Jemimah Rodrigues earned a promotion following her standout World Cup performances.