NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson share a robust bond from their time collectively on the franchise. Parag has typically spoken about how a lot he discovered from Samson throughout his stint with the Royals earlier than the latter’s transfer to Chennai Tremendous Kings final 12 months. Through the toss for the IPL 2026 conflict between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Parag made a particular point out of his former captain.After profitable the toss and opting to bowl, Parag mentioned: “We will likely be bowling first. A brand new wicket for us, first time it has been used this season as effectively. So hopefully there’s a little little bit of stickiness in the beginning. Now we have chased down loads of totals right here. We fell quick in 2024, so hopefully not the case this time. Now we have received two adjustments. Brijesh steps out, and Tushar Deshpande is available in. Hetty will get a relaxation, and Pretorius makes his debut.“Reflecting on his journey to captaincy, he added: “It has been a journey. I used to be below (Sanju Samson) Bhaiya for the longest time, after which Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara, the top coach and Director of Cricket) did very well in enhancing me with all the selections and concerned me in all of the tactical and strategic conferences. Now I feel I’ve taken the onus up. Needed to make loads of powerful calls, however pleased to be right here.”Parag was appointed Rajasthan Royals captain forward of IPL 2026 following Samson’s commerce to Chennai Tremendous Kings.Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Ishan Kishan additionally confirmed two adjustments to his aspect.“Now we have received two adjustments from the final sport, (Praful) Hinge coming in (and veteran Jaydev Unadkat misses out, Harshal Patel is among the many impression gamers),” Ishan mentioned.Talking about management, he added: “I feel I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I used to be a pacesetter in Below-19 India, I’ve been doing it for my state group, and I feel it makes you extra conscious of the state of affairs, extra targeted on the sport. You look to do extra in your group as a result of it is by no means about particular person efficiency; it’s at all times about teamwork. So now we have completed it, and I feel we’re doing it in an excellent method. I feel clearly it makes a distinction if you find yourself the captain of the group, and you’ve got been doing effectively. It exhibits loads of maturity, {that a} participant has a certain quantity of progress in him now. So it did assist me a bit in the previous couple of years after I’ve been a pacesetter of my aspect and completed effectively for the group. It made me come again to the Indian aspect. So what else are you able to ask for?.”Rajasthan Royals (Taking part in 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.Rajasthan Royals Influence Subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Brijesh SharmaSunrisers Hyderabad (Taking part in 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.SRH Influence Subs: Smaran Ravichandran, Sakib Hussain, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel.