The trade window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has opened, and already megadeals are being speculated. The biggest among them is the potential trade of Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While nothing is confirmed yet, fans are already wondering, if Samson is traded out, who will captain RR? Following are the top 3 names who might be the next captain of Rajasthan Royals. Players Who Can Replace Samson as RR Captain in IPL 2026 Riyan Parag Riyan Parag appears the most likely candidate. He has been a prolific member of the Rajasthan Royals since 2019 and is familiar with the team. In IPL 2025, he captained RR during Samson's injury time. The team played 8 games under his captaincy, winning 2 and losing 6. Although that record is not good, he has demonstrated leadership skills. Parag also captains Assam in domestic cricket, so he is partially experienced in captaincy. He is young and has confidence, and the team may support him to develop into the captain. Also Read | 4 IPL Teams That Should Go After Jamie Smith in IPL 2026 Mini Auction Yashasvi Jaiswal Another viable candidate is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He's been in excellent batting form and has already scored more than 2100 runs for the Royals. Although he has never captained at any level, his passion and energy are evident on the field. Jaiswal signed with RR in 2020 and is regarded as the future spark of the team. If the Royals are ready to go for a giant leap, they may select him to begin a new era post-Samson. Nitish Rana Nitish Rana has more experience. RR signed him for the previous season of IPL. The southpaw has already captained Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He also captains Delhi in domestic cricket. Rana has captained in 14 IPL matches and won 6, which is an average record. He is a cool head, has good game awareness, and gets along with colleagues. If RR wants a consistent and tested captain, Rana would be an excellent pick.