Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag didn’t hold back when he addressed the media after his side’s dramatic Indian Premier League win over the Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. The triumph has breathed new life into RR’s postseason chase, placing them just one more victory away from securing a place in the next phase. While Parag praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—his 15-year-old match-winner who was named Player of the Match after a 38-ball 93—he also used the opportunity to push back at IPL commentators who, in his view, have been drawing attention to his personal life.
Key takeaways
- RR’s win over Lucknow has lifted the Royals’ playoff qualification hopes significantly.
- Riyan Parag said he has accepted that people will talk regardless of what he does.
- Parag argued that off-field commentary can become an issue when it shifts from cricket to personal matters.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Match for a 38-ball 93.
- With the victory, Rajasthan moved to fourth place and will play the Mumbai Indians in their last league game.
Parag responds to personal-life chatter
Asked how he manages the narratives being circulated about him, Parag made it clear he doesn’t plan to give such talk any space in his preparation. He said that after going through multiple cycles of attention, he has come to the understanding that criticism and discussion will continue no matter the circumstances, so the focus must stay on performance.
“First, one thing I have understood now, you mentioned four years, that no matter what I do, people will talk,” Parag said. “I have understood that much. Secondly, I have also understood that whatever talk is happening, it shouldn’t affect my game, my form, or my mindset. Because keyboard warriors—that is outside work, and it should be left outside. And as far as how much I think about my game or how much belief I have in my game, I feel that shouldn’t be overpowered by it.”
He added that the IPL inevitably brings plenty of activity beyond the field, but players still have one primary job when they step out to compete. For Parag, the priority is delivering for the supporters who turn up and carry expectations for their franchise.
“As far as whatever is going on in the IPL this year, a lot of things are happening outside. I feel this entire country loves cricket very much. We, as players, try to give our best whenever we go out, to perform for the crowd that has come and for the expectations they bring,” he said.
Parag challenges IPL commentators over boundaries
Parag then shifted to a wider critique of IPL analysis, particularly how experts discuss matches and players. He acknowledged that errors are part of cricket—players can misjudge lengths, timings, and execution in a short format—making it natural for teams to have poor spells in a given game.
However, Parag drew a firm line at commentary that, in his view, crosses into personal territory. He stressed that while cricketing mistakes are expected, it is not appropriate when people in the commentary box make remarks about an individual’s private life or matters outside the ground.
“Players are working very hard. It’s very easy to say when a team gets all out for 75 or 80 that they don’t want to play or don’t know how to play. Before that game, there must be three or four days of preparation, and there is preparation on how to score 220 or 250, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. We are also human; mistakes happen from our side too.”
Parag also appealed directly to commentators whose voices reach large audiences, urging them to keep discussions centered on the sport itself. He argued that cricket is a major part of the country’s culture and should be handled with care, with emphasis on the game rather than unrelated issues.
“I feel, whatever is happening outside, especially commentators whose voices are reaching the people, I would just request them to love cricket, talk about cricket, and I feel a sport that is so important to a country, in which we are the best, I feel it should be treated with some respect and only cricket should be talked about, nothing else,” he asserted.
Where RR stand after beating Lucknow
On the points table, the win against Lucknow Super Giants moved Rajasthan to fourth place. The Royals now turn their attention to the Mumbai Indians in their final league match of the season. Parag’s side will qualify for the playoffs with a victory over MI, while a loss could still leave their campaign alive depending on how results elsewhere shape the standings.
