Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has launched a blunt attack on Riyan Parag after the Rajasthan Royals skipper’s batting form failed to spark the side during the ongoing IPL. Even as the Royals have held onto a place inside the top four, Srikkanth argued that Parag has not produced the kind of decisive innings that pressure matches demand. With Rajasthan stumbling in recent outings, the criticism has sharpened around the team’s inability to get enough from the middle overs.
Quick facts
- Srikkanth criticised Riyan Parag for an underwhelming IPL run with the bat.
- Rajasthan Royals have lost their last two matches.
- Parag’s season numbers: 61 runs from the matches referenced, with a strike rate of 122.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have carried more of the load for Rajasthan, per the report.
- Ajinkya Rahane’s season numbers cited: 152 runs from seven matches at a strike rate of 144.76.
- Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Titans by 99 runs to regain momentum.
- Srikkanth backed MI for a late push, while saying KKR and Lucknow Super Giants are out of playoff contention.
- On SRH vs DC, Srikkanth backed Sunrisers Hyderabad as favourites and questioned Delhi’s No. 3 option, Karun Nair.
Srikkanth said Parag’s contribution has been limited to “stylish walks” rather than meaningful batting output, stressing that the batter has repeatedly fallen short when the game tightened. He also suggested that Parag’s struggles have forced Rajasthan to lean more heavily on their top order and on No. 3 Dhruv Jurel, which he believes has come at the cost of balance. The result, in Srikkanth’s view, is a middle order that continues to falter and disrupts momentum at key moments.
In a particularly pointed comparison, Srikkanth dragged Ajinkya Rahane into the same conversation, claiming there is a “competition” between Parag and Rahane for the label of the “worst batter.” He framed it as a season-long pattern of underperformance, arguing that Parag has only had one decent stretch and nothing beyond that. The former India batter made the remarks on his YouTube channel.
Numbers behind the debate
To back the argument, Srikkanth cited Rahane’s output as stronger than Parag’s so far in the IPL. Rahane has scored 152 runs from seven matches at a strike rate of 144.76, while Parag has managed 61 runs at a strike rate of 122. The contrast, according to the assessment, underlines why Rajasthan’s middle phase has been unable to provide the impact required to win crucial encounters.
While Rajasthan’s form came under the spotlight, Mumbai Indians offered a different storyline. The five-time champions recorded a dominant 99-run win over Gujarat Titans, a result that is expected to restore confidence after a stretch where they had not looked at their sharpest. The emphatic margin, in Srikkanth’s reading, also sets the stage for MI to re-enter the conversation with renewed belief.
Srikkanth supported the idea of a late turnaround for Mumbai, pointing to their ability to raise intensity in high-stakes games. He also made a clear call on the playoff picture, stating there was no realistic route for Kolkata Knight Riders or Lucknow Super Giants to qualify. In his framing, KKR and LSG are already eliminated, leaving them to compete only for positions around 9th and 10th.
He then shifted focus to the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, backing SRH as clear favourites. Srikkanth highlighted what he described as a major weakness in Delhi’s batting order, especially at No. 3, where Karun Nair has been deployed. His view was that Nair is more suited to Test cricket than the fast, high-pressure rhythm of T20 batting.
With Rajasthan under pressure and Mumbai riding confidence from a big win, Srikkanth’s comments reflect a wider theme of the IPL season: when key batters fail to deliver in the middle overs, it quickly changes how teams chase, defend, and manage momentum. For now, the debate around Parag’s role and Delhi’s No. 3 spot remains central to the conversation coming out of these matches.
