In what could have been a defining moment early in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase, Rajasthan Royals let slip a golden opportunity—quite literally—as Riyan Parag dropped a regulation catch to dismiss Virat Kohli during Match 28 of IPL 2025 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The incident took place on the very first ball of the fourth over. Kohli, attempting to lift the tempo, went for an ambitious lofted shot against Sandeep Sharma’s cross-seam, slower delivery.
The timing was off, and the ball ballooned high toward long-on, offering a simple chance to Parag. Positioned well under the descending ball, Parag had both time and visibility, yet somehow misjudged it. With his sunglasses on and no external distraction in sight, he let the catch slip right through his hands, stunning the crowd and his teammates alike.
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Adding to the confusion was miscommunication with fellow fielder Tushar Deshpande. Positioned at mid-off, Deshpande initially ran toward the ball but pulled out at the last moment, assuming Parag had it covered. The hesitation from both players turned what should’ve been a routine dismissal into a missed opportunity.
Riyan Parag was visibly animated after the drop, exchanging heated words with Deshpande, clearly frustrated by the misunderstanding. Considering Kohli’s track record against Sandeep Sharma—seven dismissals in 16 prior T20 innings—this was no ordinary drop. Kohli’s wicket early on would have tilted the momentum firmly in RR’s favour.
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Instead, the Royals gifted RCB’s main man a second chance, one that could prove costly in a high-stakes chase. In tight contests like these, it’s often the fielding lapses that separate victory from defeat. And Parag’s fumble might just go down as one of the defining moments of this clash.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) April 13, 2025
