Riyan Parag Throws Rajasthan Royals Bowlers Under The Bus For Heartbreaking Loss Vs KKR

Riyan Parag blames bowlers for loss vs KKR [Source: AP]

Rajasthan Royals had a golden opportunity to win their fifth game of the ongoing IPL 2026 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, but the side crumbled in the last few overs and allowed a stuttering KKR to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat. RR have now suffered back-to-back losses after winning their first four games.

Rajasthan Royals struggled to put runs on the board despite getting a solid start from their openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the dangerous Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, their middle-order collapsed, and the team was restricted to a mere 155.

In return, KKR were on the verge of defeat at the halfway mark of their chase. The side had lost 6 wickets for 85 runs, but Rinku Singh (53* off 34), and Anukul Roy (29* off 16), stole the show as the duo remained unbeaten and steered KKR to their first win of the IPL 2026.

Riyan Parag blames bowlers for defeat vs KKR

After a tough loss, RR skipper Riyan Parag expressed his frustration towards the fielders and the bowlers, and blamed them for the defeat against a struggling Knight Riders.

With the game in the palm of their hands, the likes of Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Brijesh Sharma, allowed the match to slip by.

"The first 4-5 overs we assessed, it was a 170-run wicket. We were 10 under par for starters. The way we clawed back, the efforts the bowlers put in, it was insane and it was our game. No excuses there. We can't be dropping catches, we can't be bowling lines that favor the batsmen. Silly errors from our side but this was our game."

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Captain Riyan Parag slams himself for sluggish knock

The RR opening pair, just like the other games, gave a rollicking start as the pair added 81 runs, and laid a platform for the middle-order batters to capitalise on.

However, once the duo were dismissed, KKR crawled back in the IPL match as the middle-order failed to deliver the goods. Captain Riyan Parag, who is having a dismal IPL season with the bat, couldn’t do much and was dismissed for 12 off 14.

In the post-game presentation, Parag blamed himself, and also Shimron Hetmyer, for not capitalising on the start given by the openers.

"The way the middle order executed today, they all set a platform. Me and Hettie took 10-15 balls each and when it was time to go we didn't execute our shots. The game plan was there. Collectively during the timeout we felt it was a 170 wicket and we wanted to give ourselves some time and go 5 overs. We tried doing that but it didn't really come off."

RR fails to go top of IPL 2026 points table

Had the Royals defeated the Knight Riders, the side would have topped the table. They would have leapfrogged the Punjab Kings with 10 points in their bag. However, a loss has dented their mission, as the team remains in third position.

Punjab Kings are the table toppers with nine points, followed by RCB, who have the same number of points as the Rajasthan Royals, but have a superior net run-rate.

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