Riyan Parag, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, has criticized TV pundits and experts for disparaging him personally during the 2026 Indian Premier League. He has urged them to show respect for the players and limit their conversation to cricket.
After RR defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in Jaipur on Tuesday, Parag, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury, voiced his annoyance at the intense scrutiny surrounding his off-field problems, which included being caught vaping in the dressing room earlier this season.
“As far as IPL is concerned, there are a lot of things happening outside this year. I feel the whole country loves cricket a lot. We, as players, try to give our best whenever we can. We perform according to the expectations of the crowd. So, I feel, we should all love cricket and look at it in the same way. Players are working very hard. It is very easy to say, if a team gets all out for 75 or 80 runs, that they do not know how to play or have the mindset to play,” PTI quoted Parag telling reporters after RR beat LSG by 7 wickets.
“But before that game, there is a 3-4 days’ preparation (time period) to ensure how we can score 200-250. But sometimes it doesn’t happen. We are humans too and we make mistakes too. So, I feel, as much as it is happening outside, especially the commentators, their voices are reaching out to the people, I would request them to love cricket. Talk about cricket.”
Despite being named among Rajasthan Royals’ impact substitutes for Tuesday’s match, Parag — recently appointed India A vice-captain for the triangular series in Sri Lanka — did not feature in any on-field action.
Cricket is the greatest sport in the nation, according to 24-year-old Parag, and it deserves respect.
“The sport, which is the country’s most important sport, and in which we are the best, I feel, (should be treated) with a little respect. We should only talk about cricket. We should not talk about anything else,” he said.
Parag stated that he makes an effort not to let outside noise affect his game.
“I have understood one thing that you have been saying for the last four years, that no matter what I do, there will be talks. I have also understood that whatever talks are happening, it shouldn’t affect my game, my form or my mindset because keyboard warriors are outsiders,” he said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s brilliant 93 against LSG, which came off just 38 balls with 10 sixes and seven fours, was described as his “best innings” by Parag.
“I think this was his best innings. When he was 5 off 10 or 11, there is always two ways to go about it. One is take it upon his ego and say why am I not able to hit this? Why am I not recovering from this situation and getting out of it and then he just blindly slogs it,” Parag said.
“But it was really fun and curious to see Vaibhav, being 15. He took his time. He played that first big shot off Mayank (Yadav) over covers, which really gave me a sense of satisfaction and understanding that, okay, he is small but then he has a larger understanding of the game.”
