Riyan Parag Takes Responsibility as Royals Fall Short in Another Thriller

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag shouldered the blame for his team’s narrow one-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in a tense IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens, admitting a miscalculation in the death overs cost them a vital win. Chasing a daunting 207, RR were reeling at 71 for 5 when Parag launched a stunning counterattack, scoring 95 off just 45 balls—his highest T20 score—including a historic six consecutive sixes, five of which came in a 32-run over off Moeen Ali. Despite his heroics, RR fell short in the final stretch after failing to find a boundary for 16 crucial deliveries in the middle overs, during which they also lost Shimron Hetmyer. Parag was eventually dismissed in the 18th over, and though RR scored 20 in the final over, it wasn’t enough. “I should have finished it,” Parag said, reflecting on his dismissal and acknowledging his role in the team’s inability to seal close contests. With just three wins from 12 matches, RR are eighth in the standings and out of playoff contention—largely due to repeated failures in tight chases, including losses against Delhi (Super Over), Lucknow (by two runs), and RCB (unable to chase 18 off 12). Batting coach Vikram Rathour echoed Parag's sentiments, calling his dismissal the turning point, while also stressing that although the squad has individual talent, they haven’t clicked as a unit. The season has also reignited criticism over team strategy, particularly RR’s decision to retain Hetmyer over Jos Buttler, with the former struggling to justify his INR 11 crore retention price. Despite this, Rathour stood by the management’s decision, noting that even top players go through lean phases and expressing confidence in Hetmyer's quality and future contributions.

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