Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag believes instinct matters most when decisions have to be made instantly on the IPL field, and on Sunday he pointed to a sequence of “brave” calls that helped his side reach the playoffs. After defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs, RR sealed their place in this season’s knockout race with a strong finish to the league-stage equation. The team posted 205 for eight, then tightened the screws to restrict MI to 175 for nine, a result that ensured they claimed the final playoff berth while pushing Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders out of contention.
Speaking after the match during the presentation, Parag said he enjoys leading with gut feeling rather than overthinking the numbers. He highlighted how his thinking guided the plan for Jofra Archer and framed it as an example of trusting what he sees in real time. “I’ve taken a lot of brave calls this season, that’s how I like to lead. I thought only Archer could get Hardik, and that’s what he did. I always go with instincts over numbers in real-time decisions,” Parag said.
Parag’s tactical faith quickly became visible in the batting and bowling phases. Archer was promoted up the order and responded with a sharp 32 off 15 balls, giving RR momentum at a crucial stage. With the ball, he then returned figures of three for 17, including dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, turning key moments in MI’s chase.
After the win, Parag also reflected on how close the Royals were to executing everything perfectly, while still stressing that improvements are necessary. “Feels good when things go to plan. We’ve won but there are a lot of things we need to do better. I wanted the set batter to play longer, we needed runs. We can’t have two batters go at a run a ball. That’s why we sent Jadeja, we wanted a quick 20 from him, which he provided,” he explained.
Parag added that he is not yet fully fit, but remained confident about being available for the playoffs. “I was definitely not fit, I wasn’t supposed to play today or the next game. Will definitely play the next game. Jofra is strong as a rock. Jaddu’s strong, he’s a warrior. We should’ve qualified way earlier. We’re picking slack,” he said, underlining that RR are finding form at the right time.
RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara praised the way the bowling group managed pressure once the innings shifted. He said the side stayed focused on its plans during critical spells, especially in moments that can decide T20 matches. “During the last timeout it was just about sticking to plans and holding your nerve. All the bowlers did a brilliant job,” Sangakkara said.
Sangakkara also shed light on the decision to bring Archer higher in the batting order. In his view, the move is never guaranteed, but it becomes worthwhile when the risk aligns with the player’s strengths. “It’s always guesswork, isn’t it? It’s great when it works. We know what Jofra can do with the bat. Wanted him to go out there and take a bit of risk,” he said.
He further highlighted Archer’s overall impact across the campaign, describing the fast bowler as deeply involved with the group and a consistent contributor from the start. “He has been like that in every single game. Very invested in the team, helping everyone. Has been the spearhead right from the start,” Sangakkara noted.
Sangakkara then turned his attention to young spinner Yash Raj Punja, who produced a composed performance against experienced batters, finishing with figures of two for 44. “He’s tall, has got good revs on the ball, turns his leg-spinner and the googly. This is a good wicket to bat on but the way he bowled to those seasoned batters was outstanding. We don’t pick age, we pick ability,” Sangakkara said.
Archer, who was named Player of the Match, credited the execution of disciplined lines and the use of pace for the impact he made with both bat and ball. “I don’t think this is my best season. Every time I take the ball, I have to hit good areas. Not always rewarded, happy it came on an important day,” he said.
The England pacer also explained that the team management encouraged him to stick with pace rather than leaning on slower deliveries. “They said no more pace off after the first couple of games. There’s more margin for error with pace on. You have to deal with edges from time to time, but it’s safer more often,” Archer said.
Archer revealed he was also surprised by how early he was sent in to bat, linking it to the impact sub situation. “I wasn’t expecting to bat so early due to the impact sub. Main coach told me to put pads on, I was surprised at first,” he said. Closing with a self-assessment, Archer added, “I class myself as an all-rounder but folks call me a bowler.”
