Rajasthan Royals batter Nitish Rana supported the decision to make Riyan Parag the stand-in captain while Sanju Samson was recovering from the injury. Riyan led the team for three matches, with Samson acting as an impact sub. Under Riyan’s captaincy, RR lost two matches but managed to defeat Chennai Super Kings.
Although Nitish had captaincy experience with KKR in 2023, he had no issue with RR choosing Riyan over him. He explained that after being with KKR for 6-7 years, he understood the team environment well, which helped him when he led the side.
Nitish felt that Riyan was the right choice as skipper, having been with the team since 2019. Rana also mentioned he would have accepted the captaincy if it had been offered to him.
“When I was appointed captain of KKR, I had already been part of the team for 6-7 years, which gave me a solid understanding of the team’s culture and dynamics. Now, with RR, I believe Riyan has a deeper understanding of the team’s structure. I genuinely think the management made the right call in selecting him,” Nitish Rana said.
“If they had approached me, I would have gladly taken on the captaincy. But ultimately, what’s best for the team is what matters most. I believe the management made the right decision,” he added.
On his low scores this season, Nitish explained that he hasn’t got many opportunities.
“The dynamics on the field are often different. At times, the situation of the match calls for a specific approach. In a format like the IPL, having a left-right batting combination can be crucial. There were a few games where I didn’t get many opportunities to bat.
“I always try to give my best. Initially, I was batting lower down the order, but in the third match, they asked me if I could bat at number three. I agreed, and ended up scoring around 80. So, I just focus on delivering what the team needs, and I’m always ready for that,” he concluded.