Riyan Parag’s bold call at the death not only sealed a dramatic win for Rajasthan Royals but also drew praise from former India cricketers Ravi Shastri and Irfan Pathan.
Defending 211 in Ahmedabad, Royals looked firmly in control for most of the chase before Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada turned the game on its head. The pair counterattacked with a strike rate close to 200, dragging Gujarat Titans back into contention and reducing the equation to 15 needed off the last 12 balls.
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At that stage, Parag faced a defining call. With both Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande available, he opted to give Archer the 19th over and hold Deshpande back for the final over.
The move proved decisive.
Archer’s over went for just four runs, built on hard lengths and sharp pace that cramped both batters for room. Rashid and Rabada were restricted to singles, with no boundary conceded, shifting the equation from 15 off 12 to 11 off the final over.
With the pressure recalibrated, Deshpande delivered at the death. He nailed his yorkers consistently, conceding just five runs while also removing Rashid, as Royals clinched a six-run win in what had briefly looked like a slipping contest.
SHASTRI, PATHAN HAIL THE CALL
Shastri was quick to underline both the quality of the contest and the composure shown by Parag in that moment.
“Easily one of the best games in IPL history. Archive this one! You have got great composure and a big future ahead, especially in a leadership role. Outstanding temperament. Well played!”
Pathan, meanwhile, broke down the decision from a tactical standpoint, pointing to how the sequencing of overs shaped the outcome.
“Really impressed with Riyan Parag’s leadership here. Big call to decide whether Archer bowls the 19th or the last and he nailed it.”
“Backed more experienced bowler with high pace in the penultimate over, and it completely shut the game down. That’s where matches are won.”
A MOMENT BUILT ON EXPERIENCE
For Parag, the call was not just instinctive but reflective of a journey that has unfolded over several seasons with the Royals. Having debuted in 2019, he has played 80-plus games for the franchise, scoring over 1500 runs at a strike rate above 140.
His breakthrough came in 2024, when he amassed 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.22, followed by another strong season where he scored 393 runs at an even more aggressive strike rate of 166.53. Those performances underlined his evolution from a promising youngster into a dependable middle-order presence.
Now leading the side, Parag has made it clear that his focus lies firmly on team success. Moments like the one in Ahmedabad, where reading the game and trusting his bowlers made the difference, reflect that shift.
And as the reactions from Shastri and Pathan suggest, it is a leadership trait that is already beginning to stand out.
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