Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes that leadership will be the defining factor for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.
The franchise has emerged with a formidable squad bolstered by key trades and acquisitions, including Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, following the IPL 2026 mini-auction. However, the captaincy remains uncertain, as the team traded their former captain Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings.
Speaking to JioStar, Uthappa praised RR’s bowling arsenal, emphasizing the advantage of having around 10 fast bowlers for varied options. “The advantage Rajasthan Royals have is the fact that they have 10 fast bowlers, offering a lot of options. If they bowl in the right areas at SMS Stadium, Jaipur, they can be very successful. With spinners like Bishnoi and Jadeja, support from Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira, and depth in the batting order with Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, they now have a well-rounded team,” he stated.
On the team’s captaincy, he mentioned, “The only question is leadership. My feeling is the captaincy will likely be between Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja, while Jaiswal might need to wait a bit longer.”
Legendary spinner Anil Kumble echoed the sentiment regarding the squad’s balance, highlighting talented youngsters, proven performers, and versatile all-rounders. He also pointed out fitness concerns for key pacers like Jofra Archer but stressed the importance of leadership.
“When you look at this lineup, the captaincy will be the most decisive factor. If you want to replicate the kind of personality Sanju Samson brought to Rajasthan Royals, Dhruv Jurel is probably the closest match. Beyond that, the squad is strong, with talented youngsters, proven players, and all-rounders. The fitness of key players like Jofra Archer at the start of the IPL is also crucial. Ultimately, the management needs to identify and communicate who the captain will be,” Kumble asserted.