Jaipur:Riyan Parag delivered a captain's knock under pressure and followed it up with a firm message to critics, stating he has 'nothing to answer' as long as he continues contributing to his team's cause in IPL 2026.
Rajasthan Royals skipper Parag smashed a superb 90 off 50 balls—his first fifty-plus score of the season—against Delhi Capitals in Jaipur.
He anchored the innings after early setbacks and stitched a crucial partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who chipped in with 42. The innings helped RR post a formidable 225/6.
Late fireworks came from Donovan Ferreira, who hammered an unbeaten 47 off just 14 deliveries to give the hosts a strong finish.
Speaking after the match, Parag made it clear that outside noise does not concern him.
'I don't need to answer critics. My job is to score runs and get the two points for the team,' he said, underlining his focus on performance rather than public opinion.
He added that RR believed their total was competitive, especially with the pitch slowing down as the innings progressed.
Parag also revealed the team's batting strategy:
The plan worked well with the bat, but execution with the ball proved costly.
Despite RR's strong total, Delhi Capitals produced a stunning chase—their highest in IPL history.
Openers KL Rahul (75 off 40) and Pathum Nissanka (62 off 33) laid the foundation with a 110-run stand.
Finishers Tristan Stubbs (18*) and Ashutosh Sharma (25*) sealed the chase with five balls to spare, completing a seven-wicket win.
Parag admitted that RR fell short due to poor bowling execution.
The team conceded boundaries too frequently and 'lost a trick or two,' allowing DC to maintain momentum throughout the chase.
Mitchell Starc was among the key performers with the ball earlier, picking up 3/40, including Parag's wicket.
Parag also provided an update on his fitness, saying a minor hamstring tweak should not be a major concern, with a week available for recovery.
The innings comes shortly after he was fined 25% of his match fee and handed a demerit point following a vaping incident during a previous match—adding extra scrutiny on the young captain.
With this result:
The match also marked one of the highest successful chases against RR, highlighting the evolving batting dominance in IPL 2026.
Parag's 90 may not have resulted in a win, but it served as a powerful statement—both in terms of form and leadership.
At a time when questions were being raised, the RR skipper responded in the most impactful way possible: with the bat.