Riyan Parag found himself at the center of social media criticism following Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) hard-fought six-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati. Leading RR in his hometown, Parag oversaw the team’s first win of IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, but his actions post-match didn’t sit well with some fans.
A video surfaced online showing Parag clicking a selfie with Assam Cricket Association-appointed ball boys before tossing the phone back to them. Many social media users deemed his behavior dismissive, arguing that an Indian cricketer should uphold a more respectful attitude towards fans.
Attitude 🗿 Performance 🤡 pic.twitter.com/tNBZgSpRMA
— Sonu (@heyysonu_) March 31, 2025
Adding to his woes, Riyan Parag was slapped with a ₹12 lakh fine for RR’s slow over-rate during the match. Despite successfully defending 182 runs, RR failed to complete their 20 overs within the stipulated time, leading to the penalty. However, the young captain remained upbeat about the team’s performance.
Isiliye isko sb pasand nhi krte
— Shiva 🕉️ (@shiva45Ro) March 31, 2025
Itna kis bat ka attitude hai isko???
— arushiman ✨ (@arusheehee) March 31, 2025
Bhai isse ghatiya insan puri life me ni dekha
— Professor Sahab (@ProfesorSahab) March 31, 2025
Bohot attitude hai
— Amit Srivastav (@khansmeme) March 31, 2025
Yeh parag should be banned from IPL
— S. (@RealGoat_45) March 31, 2025
“We felt we were 20 short. We were going well in the middle but lost quick wickets. However, our bowlers executed plans well,” Riyan Parag said post-match. “We’ve had two tough games—one where we conceded 280 and another where we couldn’t defend 180. This win was much needed.”
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On the field, the Rajasthan Royals were exceptional, with Parag himself pulling off a stunning diving catch to dismiss Shivam Dube. Shimron Hetmyer also contributed with a brilliant grab, ending MS Dhoni’s late charge for 16 runs.
“Fielding makes up for the 20 runs we were short. We’ve been working hard with our fielding coach, Dishant Yagnik, and it’s showing,” Riyan Parag added.
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The 23-year-old, the first player from Assam to captain an IPL team, also made headlines when a local fan invaded the pitch and touched his feet during RR’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders. RR, after a tough start against Sunrisers Hyderabad, now set their sights on Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 5.
