Riyan Parag Calls RR’s Defeat vs SRH “Just a Blip”, Admits Lack of Domestic Exposure to Pace Duo
Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag described his team’s heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad as “just a blip” while also making an honest admission about facing their emerging pace attack.
RR suffered a shocking collapse in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash after being bowled out for 159 while chasing a daunting 217. The defeat ended their four-match winning streak, although the side remains at the top of the table despite the loss.
Batting first, SRH posted a commanding 216/6, powered by skipper Ishan Kishan’s explosive 91 off 44 balls, alongside useful contributions from Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The innings set the tone for a dominant performance.
In response, RR’s top order was blown away early by debutant pacer Praful Hinge, who delivered a stunning spell, reducing the Royals to 9/5 inside the first over. He later combined with fellow uncapped bowler Sakib Hussain to dismantle the batting lineup and secure SRH’s comprehensive win.
Despite the collapse, RR found some resistance through a fighting century partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja, who helped push the score to a more respectable total after early damage.
Speaking after the match, Parag admitted that the team made errors but credited SRH for their disciplined bowling. He also reflected on the pitch conditions, suggesting that bowling second might have been more favorable due to the slowing surface.
“Being five wickets down for nine and still getting to 160 says a lot about the depth. It is just a blip. We move ahead to Kolkata and something better,” Parag said, urging his side to move on quickly from the setback.
However, it was his comment on SRH’s young pacers that stood out. Referring to the duo of Hinge and Hussain, Parag admitted limited familiarity with them in domestic cricket.
“I have not seen them a lot domestically… played Sakib once when I was with Assam versus Bihar. They bowled beautifully,” he said, praising their execution under pressure and the energy of the home crowd.
The result saw SRH climb to fourth place in the standings with their second win of the season, while RR will look to regroup quickly after their first loss of IPL 2026.
