Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India] - April 20: Riyan Parag, the acting captain of the Rajasthan Royals, expressed his confusion over the team's recent performance, particularly in their match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite being competitive until the final overs, he felt that a few critical deliveries ultimately led to their downfall, marking their fourth straight loss in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
The Royals appeared to be in control for much of the match, yet they fell agonizingly short, finishing just nine runs away from the 181-run target set by LSG.
Lucknow's captain, Rishabh Pant, placed his faith in seasoned bowler Avesh Khan, who played a pivotal role in securing the win for his team. Avesh's precise yorkers proved to be the turning point, allowing LSG to defend the slender margin of nine runs in the final over.
While Pant celebrated the narrow escape, Parag took responsibility for the loss, admitting he should have played a more decisive role in the penultimate over. He stated, “It’s tough to process this loss. We were in contention until the 18th or 19th over. I should have finished it off in the 19th. I take the blame for this defeat. We need to perform cohesively for the full 40 overs to secure a win.”
Rajasthan was on the verge of breaking their losing streak, needing just 25 runs to clinch victory. Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both well-set batsmen, were at the crease, poised to lead the Royals to success.
However, Avesh turned the tide in the 18th over by dismissing both set batsmen, causing Rajasthan's innings to falter, ultimately leading to a two-run loss.
In addition to Avesh's impressive bowling, Rajasthan's fate was also influenced by the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma during LSG's innings. Abdul Samad showcased his power-hitting skills, smashing four sixes to propel Lucknow to a total of 180/5.
“Sandeep is a reliable bowler; he’s had just one off game. Samad played exceptionally well. We should have chased that down. The conditions were perfect; we were in the game, but a few balls can change the outcome of an IPL match,” Parag concluded.
