Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has acknowledged that the recent off-field distractions involving the franchise have been nothing they would call desirable, while insisting the squad is continually reminded of their responsibilities to the team and its standards.
Controversies and what Sangakkara said
- Sangakkara said the controversies surrounding the side were “not a positive reflection of the team,” adding that any incident of that nature has been dealt with by both the league’s integrity structures and the franchise.
- Speaking in Jaipur on Thursday—one day before Rajasthan take on Delhi Capitals—he stressed that the Royals always work to maintain a constructive, healthy dressing-room culture built on shared values.
- He also underlined the internal message to players: they are expected to act with responsibility towards the franchise, as well as uphold the culture and values that the group follows.
- Addressing the two controversies already seen in IPL 2026, Sangakkara pointed out that they have been resolved through the appropriate processes, and the focus remains on culture and accountability.
The first incident this season involved captain Riyan Parag, who was reported to have been caught vaping in the dressing room during Rajasthan’s match against Punjab Kings this week. Parag received a fine equivalent to 25% of his match fee and was also issued one demerit point.
Earlier in the campaign, the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit fined RR team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder INR 1 lakh after he was spotted using a mobile phone in the dugout during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 in Guwahati.
Parag’s form under scrutiny
Rajasthan currently sit fourth in the points table, but concerns about Parag’s batting form have intensified as the league reaches the halfway stretch, with 9 of their 14 matches already completed.
Across nine innings, Parag has managed 117 runs—averaging 14.62—with a strike rate of 124.46. His latest contribution was a 29-run knock in the same match against Punjab Kings; it proved to be his top score so far. In that 16-ball innings, Parag struck two fours and two sixes, supporting Rajasthan’s chase of 223. However, the decisive thrust came from the fourth-wicket stand between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey, which ultimately helped seal the result for the Royals.
Captaincy praised, batting separation advised
Sangakkara offered strong backing for Parag’s leadership and suggested that the batter should treat his batting as its own task, rather than tying it to the pressures of captaincy.
“I think he’s done really well as a captain,” Sangakkara said. “And in the last game, his short innings is what really shifted the momentum our way. He played with fearlessness in tough conditions and helped bring the required rate and momentum back in our favour. Those are the kinds of overs and innings we want from Riyan.”
He added that Parag’s batting ability is not in doubt, but that batters sometimes take time to find rhythm in a season. Sangakkara’s message was to enjoy batting without extra pressure or expectations, noting that a batter can’t replicate the mindset of captaincy at the crease.
“You can’t bat like a captain—you have to bat like Riyan Parag, the batter. And you’re captaining only when you’re out in the field. So that clear separation of roles, going out there without pressure, and doing what the team needs—that’s what he’s focusing on, and he showed good signs in the last match,” Sangakkara said.
Schedule ahead
Rajasthan have won six of their nine matches so far in IPL 2026. Their next fixture is against Delhi Capitals at home in Jaipur on May 1.
