Riyan Parag found himself at the centre of a fresh wave of attention earlier this week after an incident in the Rajasthan Royals dressing room involving vaping, which led to a disciplinary deduction of 25% of his match earnings for “bringing the game into disrepute.” Yet, just days later, the right-handed batter tried to drown out the controversy with a sharp, statement-making knock in the Indian Premier League.
Quick facts
- Rajasthan Royals captain: Riyan Parag
- Disciplinary action: 25% cut in match fees for vaping in the dressing room
- Innings: 90 runs off 50 balls vs Delhi Capitals
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Rajasthan score: 225/6
- Result: Delhi Capitals chased it down by 7 wickets with 5 balls remaining
- After-match: Parag said the bowling could have been better and defended batting first
- Fitness update: Parag missed the fielding due to a hamstring issue
In the Friday clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Parag struck 90 from 50 balls against the Delhi Capitals. Rajasthan finished on 225/6, but the total failed to hold up as Delhi reached the target comfortably, winning by seven wickets with five deliveries still left in the chase.
After the defeat, Parag was direct in his assessment, arguing that the bowling unit should have done more despite the kind of score that typically gives a side a strong chance. He also stood by the decision to bat first, saying the pitch was expected to slow later and that the score was competitive—if only the bowlers hadn’t allowed Delhi to settle too much in the middle overs.
“I think it was a good score. I honestly felt 200 was around par, and the wicket was likely to get slower as the game went on,” Parag said. “But we could have bowled better in the middle. We let them get away too much. I felt we missed the trick.”
The pressure on Parag had been building even before the Delhi encounter. In his first nine matches, he managed 117 runs, and his captaincy spot came under scrutiny amid his relatively quiet returns. This innings, though, was his response to the noise—quick, forceful, and aimed at shifting the conversation back to performance.
When asked to address critics, the Royals skipper chose a pragmatic line. “I don’t think I need to answer any critics or whoever is talking about it. At the end of the day, my job is to get two points, and my innings don’t really matter if we have lost the game,” he said.
Support from the former fast bowler
One of the most encouraging reactions came from former New Zealand pacer Danny Morrison, who offered a light-hearted message aimed at keeping Parag confident. “I just love you getting runs. At the end of the day, let’s see a smile—let’s see those teeth,” Morrison said.
Parag briefly smiled at the comment before returning to a more composed, serious expression—an indication that even with runs on the board, the result still left the captain focused on what went wrong.
Parag’s innings began after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was removed early, dismissed for four by Kyle Jamieson. The task for Parag was already difficult, especially with both Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal—who had been among the more in-form openers—departing within the opening two overs.
Toss and batting decision
Earlier, Parag had won the toss for Rajasthan and chose to bat first. The call was considered bold because most captains in the tournament had been opting to bowl after winning the toss. Parag explained that he made the decision after reading the pitch conditions, expecting the surface to slow down as the game progressed.
So far, Rajasthan’s campaign under Parag’s leadership has been impressive, with the franchise winning six of its first nine matches. That early momentum helped smooth out earlier debate around his appointment as captain, and as the season moved forward, his temperament appeared steadier—calm in moments where results and scrutiny both intensify.
Still, the skipper also carried the weight of a separate controversy. He had made headlines for the wrong reasons in a Royals vs Punjab Kings game at Mullanpur after he was found vaping. The footage spread quickly online, and two days later the BCCI imposed a 25% fine on his match fees. The board also indicated that stricter steps could be taken against the Rajasthan Royals franchise.
Against the Delhi Capitals, Parag did not come out to field. After the match, he revealed he had suffered a hamstring problem. “Hopefully, it is not too serious. Thankfully, we have a week break, and hopefully, I will recover,” Parag said.
