Cricket

IPL 2024: Riyan Parag expresses regret over missed opportunity in RR’s narrow defeat against SRH

May 3, 2024

In a nail-biting encounter during the 50th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) managed to edge out Rajasthan Royals (RR) by a single run. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were instrumental in securing the win for SRH with their exceptional performances.

Despite putting on an impressive display with a blistering 77 runs off 49 balls (a strike rate of 157), Riyan Parag expressed his disappointment following RR’s narrow defeat to SRH.

Riyan Parag reflects on the missed chance

Parag voiced his frustration on not being able to finish the game for the Royals. Reflecting on the match, he confessed that he was not performing at his peak and that there were numerous areas, the right-handed batter needed to refine. Parag stressed that if he had sealed the victory, he would have deemed it as his standout innings.

“I got a lot of areas to improve. I am not in my best form, I would have finished the game otherwise. I got a lot of areas to perfect. I try to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. Is it my best innings? No. I would say that if I get a hundred,” Parag said in post-match presentation.

While he could not make it to the India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024, Parag expressed his best wishes to the Rohit Sharma-led side.

“It would be really great for our country. Hopefully, we can bring home the World Cup this time,” he added.

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Rajasthan Royals face second loss in IPL 2024

Despite losing to SRH, RR retained their top position in the points table. Batting first, SRH set a formidable total of 201/3 in 20 overs, powered by Nitish’s 76 off 58 balls, Travis Head‘s 58 off 44 balls, and Heinrich Klassen‘s explosive 42 off 19 balls, including 3 sixes and 3 boundaries.

In reply, RR had a shaky start, losing two early wickets of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Parag stabilized the innings with a partnership of 134 runs in the middle overs. Jaiswal departed after scoring 67 off 40 balls in the 14th over. Despite their efforts, RR couldn’t finish strong and ended up losing the match by just 1 run.