Riyan Parag blames himself for the loss against KKR

I should have shown more aggression and looked to finish the game earlier—or at least stayed till the final over, which eventually decided the match, Parag said

HYDERABAD: Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag, who scored a blazing 45-ball 95 including six sixes in a row, blamed his own batting approach for the loss against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

“I should have shown more aggression and looked to finish the game earlier—or at least stayed till the final over, which eventually decided the match,” Parag said in the post-match briefing with the host broadcaster.

Parag’s dismissal in the 18th over shifted the momentum away from Royals and despite some lusty hits from impact sub Shubham Dubey in the final over bowled by Vaibhav Arora, Royals fell short by just one run.

“I was just sad about me getting out. I was planning to stay till the last two overs, but unfortunately I got out in the 18th over,” Parag said.

“We couldn’t get much in the 16th and 17th overs, a miscalculation from my side. It was a miscalculation from my side. Should have finished it,” he said.

“I think I did it pretty well, until the time I got out. I have been telling that to myself, and feel off to give an interview (as the losing captain),” Parag said.

While RR are already out of the playoff race in IPL 2025, their remaining matches are now being played for pride. With only three wins in 13 matches, RR have suffered the most narrow-margin defeats this season—most of them while chasing.