Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, has expressed strong criticism of the Rajasthan Royals' decision to appoint Riyan Parag as their captain for IPL 2026. Manjrekar highlighted that while Parag possesses remarkable self-confidence, it has not translated into consistent performance on the field since he joined the team in 2019. He noted that Parag's elevation to captaincy is puzzling, especially considering the franchise's previous decision to remove Sanju Samson from the captaincy. Manjrekar remarked on Parag's overconfidence, stating it can be both a strength and a drawback, as it leads him to attempt risky shots without focusing adequately on his gameplay. He emphasized that Parag's past performances have not warranted such a significant reward, making the decision to back him as captain a questionable one for the franchise.