"I know my opinion about myself.."- Riyan Parag shuts down haters with a jibe after winning the game vs Delhi Capitals

Rajasthan Royals’ uncapped Indian batsman Riyan Parag was all emotions while speaking at the post-match conference after the 2008 champions defeated Delhi Capitals by 12 runs. Parag played out his best-ever knock in the Indian Premier League since his debut and he had to wait for it for a long time. The youngster is finally able to express himself at the fullest with many former cricketer-turned pundits claiming that it’s going to be his season.

Riyan Parag had come in the middle last night during a very tough juncture of the game when Rajasthan had lost their top order quite cheaply. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Jos Buttler had to depart from the crease due to a very good bowling performance from Delhi Capitals early on. Mukesh Kumar got the first breakthrough by cleaning off Jaiswal’s stumps with an outstanding in-swinging delivery for 5.

Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed was on target up next as he led to the removal of Sanju Samson for 15. Kuldeep Yadav then bowled a Test match length delivery to Buttler who remained stuck while attempting to play a reverse sweep and departed for a disappointing 11 runs. Riyan Parag, who came in at number 4 after the departure of Samson, had the onus of building on Rajasthan’s innings.

Riyan Parag’s slow start turned into a blistering knock in the death overs

Riyan Parag started relatively slower on the tricky surface at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium which had a lot of bounce but did have assistance for batters as the ball was coming swiftly to the bat. He found the support of Ravichandran Ashwin, who was promoted up the order, in place of Dhruv Jurel.

Ashwin batted in his flare as he left the crease after scoring 29 off 19 with 3 sixes at a strike rate of 152. The off-spinner transitioned into those sixes right after Samson and head coach Kumar Sangakkara came into the middle for a quick chat. Riyan Parag had later revealed that the captain and coach duo were asking him and Ashwin to take the game deeper.

Then after Ashwin’s dismissal, Jurel came in and left after scoring 20 off 12 before the arrival of Shimron Hetmeyer. The West Indies explosive batter contributed with his 14 off 7 while Riyan Parag from the other end had started accelerating his innings.

The 22-year-old had the pressure of guiding Rajasthan to a 180+ total at least and he needed to go all guns blazing in the final over bowled by Anrich Nortje. Riyan Parag did not care if Nortje is regarded as the most lethal pacer around as he thrashed the South African with 5 boundaries in the over including 3 fours and 2 sixes to convert that into a huge over. And that eventually helped RR post 186 as the target to which Delhi fell short of just 12 runs.

Parag takes pride in his ability to send yorkers and bouncers for six

For his 45-ball 85 last night in front of home support, Riyan Parag was adjudged as man of the match for what was a revelation kind of a knock. While speaking in the post-match presentation, the youngster revealed all the things he had been working on to get better and also shed light on his self-belief on hitting Yorkers and Bouncers to huge sixes.