Title: Was too sad about myself getting out: Parag on 1-run loss to KKR
Riyan Parag, the captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR), was left distraught after their thrilling one-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match on Sunday. Despite scoring a magnificent 45-ball 95, Parag couldn’t help but think about the opportunity he let slip away when he got out, which ultimately cost his team the match.
“I was just too sad about myself getting out,” Parag said in a post-match interview, his voice laced with disappointment. “Probably a miscalculation from my side, I should have finished it.” The 23-year-old cricketer added, “The game was in our hands. We should have finished this.”
Parag’s innings was a masterclass display of batting, as he took the attack to the KKR bowlers, hitting eight fours and five sixes. His partnership with Jos Buttler, who scored 44 off 27 balls, was particularly impressive, as the duo put on 123 runs for the second wicket. However, despite his brilliant batting, Parag’s dismissal in the 18th over, when RR still needed 22 runs to win, proved to be the turning point in the match.
KKR’s spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, did an excellent job of containing the RR batsmen in the death overs, and despite a late surge by Ben Stokes, who scored 15 off 6 balls, RR fell short of the target by just one run.
Parag’s disappointment was palpable as he reflected on the match. “I think we were in a good position, but we didn’t capitalize on it,” he said. “We had a great partnership, and then I got out. It’s a learning experience for me, and I’ll try to do better next time.”
While Parag’s words were laced with disappointment, they also showed a sense of accountability and determination to improve. As a captain, it’s natural to feel frustrated when your team falls short of the target, but Parag’s reaction was a testament to his commitment to his craft.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for RR, who had been riding high on a four-match winning streak before this defeat. However, Parag remained optimistic about his team’s chances in the tournament. “We’re still in a good position in the points table, and we’ll try to bounce back in the next match,” he said.
In the end, while Parag’s dismissal proved to be the difference between victory and defeat, his innings will be remembered as one of the highlights of the match. His 95 was a testament to his batting prowess, and despite the loss, RR fans will be eagerly awaiting his next innings.
