Riyan Parag Reflects on Performance Despite Rajasthan Royals' Loss to Delhi Capitals
Riyan Parag's First IPL Fifty Amidst Team Setback
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], May 2: Rajasthan Royals' captain Riyan Parag celebrated his inaugural fifty of the IPL 2026 season, acknowledging that while he disregards external criticism, his primary duty is to contribute runs and secure victories for his team.
Parag achieved this milestone against the Delhi Capitals on Friday in Jaipur. The Capitals ended their three-match losing streak with a decisive seven-wicket victory over the Royals.
A remarkable opening partnership of 110 runs between KL Rahul (75 off 40) and Pathum Nissanka (62 off 33) set the stage for a record chase of 226 runs, which was successfully completed by Tristan Stubbs (18*) and Ashutosh Sharma (25*) with five balls remaining.
Earlier in the match, Riyan Parag showcased his skills with a stellar 90 runs off 50 balls, marking his first fifty-plus score this season. Donovan Ferreira also made a significant impact, scoring an unbeaten 47 runs off just 14 balls, helping RR to a total of 225/6 after they chose to bat first.
Parag played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings alongside Dhruv Jurel (42) after the team faced early challenges. However, Mitchell Starc (3/40) delivered key strikes, including that of the RR captain.
Parag expressed that the total was competitive, noting that the pitch had slowed down, making 200 runs a reasonable target. However, he pointed out that poor bowling, particularly the frequent boundary concessions, led to their defeat. He elaborated on their strategy to hold back aggressive players like Donovan Ferreira, effectively rotating against spin at around 8-9 runs per over before targeting the pace bowlers.
“I don’t feel the need to respond to critics regarding my form, but my responsibility is to score runs and secure points for the team. I believe we set a good score. Although 200 was the benchmark, the pitch was deteriorating, yet our bowling was subpar, allowing boundaries every over and losing crucial moments. With a left-right combination and 8-9 overs left, we aimed to delay sending in our hitters, targeting 8-9 runs per over against spinners and attacking seamers from the outset. That was our game plan. I hope my injury isn’t serious; it’s just a slight hamstring tweak, and we have a week to recover,” Parag stated post-match.
In a separate incident, Parag was fined 25% of his match fee and received a demerit point for vaping in the dressing room during the IPL match against Punjab Kings.
On another note, this victory marks the highest run chase in IPL history for the Delhi Capitals, who sealed the match with five balls to spare.
Delhi Capitals executed a remarkable chase, bouncing back from a previous collapse where they scored only 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This emphatic win, achieved with seven wickets in hand, showcased their resilience.
With this win, Delhi Capitals secured their fourth victory of the season, placing them sixth in the points table, while Rajasthan Royals remain in fourth with six wins out of ten matches.
This chase also stands as the second-highest successful chase against Rajasthan Royals, following the 229 runs chased by SRH at the same venue earlier this season.