Riyan Parag experienced a career milestone as he led Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at his home ground in Guwahati. The occasion was a significant one for the 23 years old cricketer as well as for the local fans who packed the stadium to cheer their homegrown star.
Riyan Parag, the first cricketer from his state to captain an IPL franchise, stepped in for regular skipper Sanju Samson who is still recovering from an injury and has been advised against playing a full match.
The match had its share of drama when an enthusiastic fan ran onto the pitch and fell at Riyan Parag’s feet, momentarily interrupting play. The incident sparked discussions online, with some speculating whether it was a genuine display of admiration or merely a well-orchestrated publicity stunt.
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Riyan Parag received a hero’s welcome from the home crowd at the toss and as soon as he took the microphone to speak, the stadium erupted in applause. Addressing the fans, he expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that leading the team at such a young age was an honour beyond words. He reflected on his journey with Rajasthan Royals, having started with the franchise as a 17-year-old, and emphasised the faith the management had placed in him.
With Sanju Samson yet to regain full fitness, the Royals opted to use him as their Impact Player for the first two games of the season. In his absence from wicketkeeping duties, Dhruv Jurel stepped in to take charge behind the stumps.
Despite the emotional high of captaining in front of his home crowd, the match itself did not go Riyan Parag’s way, as Rajasthan Royals suffered a heavy defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets. It was the second consecutive disappointing result for the team under his leadership.
Their campaign had already started on a rough note with a crushing loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where the Royals conceded a staggering 286/6 in 20 overs. Their bowling unit, featuring Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Maheesh Theekshana, struggled against a relentless onslaught led by Travis Head and Ishan Kishan.
While the opportunity to lead Rajasthan Royals in front of his home supporters was a proud moment for Riyan Parag, the results on the field have made for a challenging start to his tenure as captain.
