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Riyan Parag Admits RR Fell "Well Under Par" in KKR Thriller

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag conceded his team fell "well under par" after a four-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. Parag said RR misjudged the pitch, expecting a 170-run total, and failed in basics like catching and disciplined bowling. KKR chased down 156 thanks to a crucial, unbeaten 50 from Rinku Singh after a middle-order collapse. Varun Chakravarthy starred with the ball for KKR, taking three wickets and completing 200 T20 wickets.

Key Points: RR Skipper Parag Admits Team Fell Short vs KKR in IPL 2026

  • RR misjudged Kolkata pitch conditions
  • Dropped catches and poor bowling lines cited
  • KKR's Rinku Singh played a match-winning knock
  • Varun Chakravarthy reached 200 T20 wickets milestone
2 min read

Riyan Parag admits RR fell "well under par" after loss to KKR

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag says his team misjudged the pitch and failed to execute basics in a four-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.

"We assessed it was a 170 wicket. So we were dead under par. - Riyan Parag"

Kolkata, April 19

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag admitted that his side fell short of runs after suffering a four-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 clash in Kolkata on Sunday evening.

Reflecting on the match, Parag said RR had misjudged the surface and failed to execute key basics, including catching and disciplined bowling. He acknowledged that the team expected a competitive total of around 170 runs but ended up below par.

"We assessed it was a 170 wicket. So we were dead under par. It was our game. No excuses there. We can't be dropping catches. We can't be bowling lines that favour the batsmen. There was a lot of spin on the wicket. The way Jaddu, Bishi and Punja bowled, I thought the way forward was spin [and hence he bowled an over]. Brijesh was almost there to bowl the 14th and the 16th [overs] as well," Parag said during the post-match presentation.

He further explained the tactical adjustments made during the game, particularly the increased reliance on spin due to conditions and the presence of left-handed batters in the opposition lineup.

"But they lost wickets, and there were left-handers. So I bowled... Once Bishnoi's over was done, I felt spinners might go [for runs] here, given the left-handers. I feel the game plan was there. It was a 170 wicket... we tried giving ourselves time, but it didn't come off. I felt Yash Raj Punja bowled really well. There were a few nerves in his first over," Parag added.

KKR registered a thrilling four-wicket win over RR in their IPL 2026 clash in Kolkata, chasing down 156 with Rinku Singh playing a match-winning knock.

After being put in to bat, RR were restricted to 155/9, despite a strong start from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (39). Varun Chakravarthy, in a standout performance that also saw him complete 200 T20 wickets, and Kartik Tyagi picked up three wickets each, while Sunil Narine chipped in with two.

In reply, KKR suffered early setbacks, slipping to 5/2 and later 37/3, before a middle-order collapse left them struggling at 85/6. However, Rinku Singh (50*) and Anukul Roy stitched together a crucial partnership to revive the chase.

KKR needed 21 off the final two overs before Rinku accelerated brilliantly, taking the game to the final over. He then sealed the win in style with a six, guiding KKR to victory with balls to spare.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, that was a fantastic match! Rinku Singh is just ice-cool under pressure. What a finisher! RR's total was always 15-20 runs short on that wicket. Parag's captaincy was a bit reactive, but he's young and will learn.
A
Ananya R
Yaar, it's so frustrating! We had them at 85/6! The game was in our hands. The decision to bowl Parag himself in that crucial phase instead of sticking with the main bowlers backfired. Bowling lines were too predictable. Hope they learn from this.
V
Varun X
Respect to Parag for not making excuses. That's the sign of a good leader. The real issue was the middle order collapse. After Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi, nobody could build a partnership. And Rinku... what a player! He just knows how to win games for KKR.
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Karthik V
Good to see a young Indian captain speaking so clearly and taking responsibility. The future looks bright. But the team management needs to look at the batting order. Maybe Samson should come up if Parag is struggling for form? Just a thought.
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Michael C
That was a classic IPL thriller! Credit to KKR for holding their nerve. From an overseas perspective, the quality of Indian domestic talent on show is incredible. Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Varun Chakaravarthy... the league is in great hands.

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