Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag brushed aside criticism of his leadership after leading his side to a dominant win over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. Parag said outside opinions and unnecessary noise do not affect him as he looks set to lead RR with clarity and confidence.
Parag started his first full season as RR captain on a strong note, leading from the front as Royals secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Guwahati March 30. The win not only marked the perfect start to their campaign, but also offered Parago an opportunity to answer questions about his captaincy.
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In the post-match press conference, Parag reiterated that he has learned to block outside criticism and focus only on his game and decision-making process.
“I think when I start talking about the journey, it’s going to be a long answer. But like I said before, it’s a lot of things that go outside of my game, a lot of opinions about me off the field, which is something I’ve learned not to let it affect me. I think I do that pretty well and the same thing happened this year.”
He also pointed out that stories in cricket tend to move purely on the basis of results, regardless of the thought process behind the decisions.
“It’s the irony of cricket. If I did the same things today and they scored 200 and we lost the match, the narrative would be that I was a bad captain or that I made bad decisions. That’s why even after the game I went to the dressing room and spoke to my analyst about what I could have done better. I had another reason to explain it – that I said it to Bingishwhy I didn’t bring him on because Overton was batting and he could have hit him at some sixes or something.
“So I think it’s very much result-based, result-oriented. If we end up on the winning side, everything looks better. But I feel like if you say that now, I expect you to say the same thing when we lose a game and really analyze it.”
HOW RR CAPTAIN RIYAN PARAG WAS CRITICIZED
Parag’s appointment as full-time RR captain ahead of IPL 2026 has sparked debate, especially given his limited record as a leader at the highest level.
He led the side in eight matches during IPL 2025 when Sanju Samson was unavailable, but the team managed only two wins during that period. Former India coach Kris Srikkanth was among those who questioned the decision, suggesting that Parag was supported despite inconsistent results.
Critics also pointed to the presence of more experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal and argued that RR overlooked proven leadership options.
However, head coach Kumar Sangakkara supported the decision, highlighting Parago’s maturity, vision and long-term leadership potential.
HOW RR thrashed CSK IN GUWAHATI
RR justified this boost with a clinical performance against CSK in Guwahati.
After being put into bat, CSK struggled with a surface that offered early movement and were restricted to 127, one of their lowest totals in IPL history. New ball burst from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger proved to be decisive when they took advantage of the conditions brilliantly with a power play.
In response, RR chased down the target in just 12.1 overs, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing a stunning 50 off 15 balls seal a one-sided win.
Despite expectations of a revamped CSK squad, the absence of MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis exposed their lack of depth as RR made a strong statement to open their campaign.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
31 Mar 2026 08:38 IST
