Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal in frame to become Rajasthan Royals captain after Sanju Samson's exit - Reports

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have been groomed by RR since the beginning of their careers.

With Sanju Samson’s rumored move to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals (RR) will need to find a new captain, and it seems that Riyan Parag is not among the candidates in the race.

In a huge trade agreement with the RR, Samson is reportedly scheduled to join CSK prior to IPL 2026. The Kerala-born cricketer might be traded for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, according to ESPNCricinfo.

The transfer would be one of the biggest trades in the IPL history if it were to go through. Although the agreement seems advantageous to both parties on paper, experts predict that one franchise will probably win.

The RR’s captain for the previous few seasons was Sanju Samson. In 2021, Samson was named captain. In 67 games, the wicket-keeper batter led the squad with 33 wins and 33 losses. During his tenure, he was instrumental in turning around the Royals’ fortunes.

Rajasthan enjoyed one of its best seasons under his direction in 2022, making it to its first IPL final in fourteen years before falling to the Gujarat Titans (GT).

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel reportedly in running for RR captaincy

Kumar Sangakkara, a former captain of Sri Lanka, has taken over as head coach of the RR after Rahul Dravid left in recent weeks. Additionally, Jake Lush McCrum, the franchise’s CEO, has left as well.

Last season, Riyan Parag led the team while Samson was away. He is apparently out of the running for the top position, as the team only won two of its eight games.

The Times of India reported that Dhruv Jurel is the front-runner to succeed Sanju Samson as captain of the RR. Because of his leadership potential and all-around skills, he is anticipated to lead the squad before Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“Wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel, a homegrown talent of the Royals, is the pick of many who matter in the franchise set-up. Team India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also made his IPL debut for the Royals, is another name the franchise is considering,” sources told Times of India.

Dhruv Jurel is likely to pip Yashasvi Jaiswal for RR captaincy

Jurel holds a slim advantage over Jaiswal to become captain of the RR. While in England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, both players—who get along well with head coach Kumar Sangakkara—were told about the leadership opportunities.

According to the article, Jurel was chosen for the position due to his multifaceted skill set. He may closely monitor the game and have an impact on on-field tactics because of his location behind the stumps.

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