Ahead of their IPL season opener, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara and Chennai Super Kings’ Stephen Fleming offered insights into team strategy, leadership decisions, and early challenges.

For RR, the spotlight is on the appointment of Riyan Parag as captain following the departure of Sanju Samson. Sangakkara revealed that the decision followed an extensive and structured evaluation process.

“Yes, we had multiple candidates, including Sandeep Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. We had a very structured process with strict parameters. We spoke to each candidate multiple times — two, three, even four conversations. All of them were capable of captaining the side. But we felt Parag was the best fit. He showed maturity, self-reflection, and clarity of thought. The conversations were tough, but he handled them really well. We’re confident he’s the right person to lead,” Sangakkara said.

He also addressed last season’s middle-order struggles. “We weren’t able to maintain tempo through the middle or finish as well as we wanted. We’ve had honest conversations, made some tough decisions, and the players have worked hard in the off-season. We feel more balanced now,” he noted, adding that the team’s focus is on immediate impact rather than long-term projection.

For CSK, Fleming downplayed suggestions that the opening match signals a transition phase without M.S. Dhoni. “It’s just a game without him. He’s still heavily involved in the side, and his influence remains very strong”.

Fleming also confirmed that Dewald Brevis will miss out after sustaining a side strain in training. “Yes, Brevis is out and is currently rehabing. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before he returns.”

Despite the setback, he expressed confidence in the squad. “We’ve invested in youth and Indian talent, and there’s real energy in the group. The first game is always a good barometer, and we’re focused on starting well.”