Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag Calls for Support Amid Social Media Criticism
Riyan Parag Urges Fans to Embrace Cricket
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India] - Following a dominant seven-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2026 match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag encouraged fans and commentators to focus on the love for cricket rather than the negativity often found on social media.
After RR successfully chased down a challenging target of 221 runs, thanks to an explosive innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (93 runs off 38 balls) and a solid contribution from Dhruv Jurel (53 not out off 38 balls), Parag addressed the media.
He emphasized the importance of players maintaining their focus amidst external criticism, stating, “I’ve realized that regardless of my actions, people will always have something to say. It’s crucial that these external opinions do not impact my performance or mindset. We must keep such distractions at bay.”
Parag also highlighted the dedication and effort that teams invest in preparation before each match, calling for more empathy towards players. “In the IPL, there’s a lot happening off the field this year. The entire nation has a passion for cricket, and we, as players, strive to deliver our best for the fans,” he remarked.
He further explained, “When a team gets bowled out for a low score, it’s easy for critics to say they don’t want to play. However, we prepare for days to achieve targets of 220-250 runs, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. We are human and prone to mistakes.”
Parag pointed out the influence of commentary and public narratives on perceptions of teams and players, urging everyone to focus on the sport itself. “I ask everyone to love cricket and discuss cricket, rather than anything else,” he added.
Reflecting on RR's journey and their playoff aspirations, Parag acknowledged the team’s resilience but admitted that earlier inconsistencies had impacted their chances of qualification. “As a captain, I prefer not to overstate individual performances. We have excellent contracts, facilities, and equipment to help us perform,” he noted. “When the team excels, I think about how we can improve further. When we struggle, we maintain a positive outlook.”
He expressed optimism about RR's playoff chances, stating, “If we had won our last two matches, we would have already qualified. The comeback we made shows the character of our players. We stepped up against a strong team.”
Looking ahead, Parag shifted his focus to the upcoming match against Mumbai, emphasizing the need for another crucial win. “This match is behind us, and it felt great to win. Now, we will prepare thoroughly for Mumbai. I aim to secure two points there,” he concluded.
In the match, LSG set a challenging total of 220/5, driven by a strong opening partnership from Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh. Inglis scored 60 off 30 balls, while Marsh narrowly missed a century with 96 runs off 57 balls.
Rishabh Pant contributed with a late innings boost, helping LSG surpass the 200-run mark, although both he and Marsh were run out in the final over. Yash Raj Punja was the standout bowler for RR, taking 2 wickets for 35 runs.
In response, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dazzled the crowd with a remarkable 93 runs off just 38 balls, hitting 10 sixes and seven fours. Dhruv Jurel supported with a brisk 53, leading Rajasthan Royals to a convincing seven-wicket victory, placing them fourth on the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points.