Rajasthan Royals are secretly planning a change of leadership as IPL 2026 draws closer. As people have mostly been talking of Indian players, there has been one international name which has begun to be noticed following an incredible leadership in franchise cricket, and that is of Sam Curran.
Recently, Curran won the first ILT20 title in the history of Desert Vipers, which changed the recent history of the league. The last victory over MI Emirates was an unusual one because teams associated with the MI franchise are hardly ever defeated when it comes to the championships.
The trophy itself was not the highlight; rather, it was the way Curran remained in control of the season. He was a good step up man both as a batter and as a leader. His calm performance in the last saw the Vipers out of a tricky predicament, and he was the winner of the Player of the Month.
Throughout the tournament, Curran was one of the most influential players as he was the leading run-scorer and also helped the team by contributing with the ball on a regular basis. His overall contribution was later rewarded with the Player of the Tournament award, which underscored the extent to which he was the key to the success of the Vipers.
This leadership development would be important to Rajasthan Royals. Since Sanju Samson has left the franchise as a captain, the franchise is considering its options. Indian names such as Ravindra Jadeja, Riyan Parag are perceived as the safe option, yet Curran comes as something new – a record of success as the captain in a stressful T20 league.
This is not the first time Curran was a leader. He has already captained Punjab Kings in some portions of IPL and led the Desert Vipers to a regular high finish in several seasons. This, coupled with his recent success may force Rajasthan Royals to think about having an overseas captain in years.
How far RR is prepared to go that far is unclear, although one thing is clear: Sam Curran is no longer a foreign versatile; he is now a formidable leadership choice.