Rajasthan Royals' stand-in captain Riyan Parag took responsibility for his side's narrow loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in their May 4 IPL 2025 encounter, where they fell short by just 1 run in a thrilling chase of 207. Parag’s 95 off 45 balls was the standout performance of the innings, but his dismissal in the 18th over proved to be the turning point, leaving RR unable to finish the job.
Despite the strong efforts from Andre Russell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Rinku Singh, KKR posted a daunting total of 206, and RR’s chase was largely built around Parag’s aggressive knock. However, his inability to carry the innings through the final stages, combined with some late miscalculations, contributed to the loss.
Reflecting on the game post-match, Parag admitted that he had planned to stay till the last two overs but got out at a crucial juncture in the 18th over. His early dismissal, combined with a few quiet overs (16th and 17th), halted RR’s momentum. Parag said, “I was just sad, about me getting out. I was planning to stay till the last 2 overs, but unfortunately I got out in the 18th over. We couldn't get much in the 16th and 17th, a miscalculation from my side. It was a miscalculation from my side. Should have finished it.”
Though RR were eliminated from the playoff race with only 3 wins in 13 matches, the team continued to fight with Shubham Dubey, who played a valiant cameo in the final over, needing 3 runs to win. Despite the efforts, Vaibhav Arora held his nerve and successfully defended the total, with KKR winning by the slimmest of margins.
While the loss means RR’s playoffs hopes are gone, Parag and his team now focus on playing for pride in the remaining fixtures. KKR, on the other hand, stays alive in the race for the playoffs, with their next match against Chennai Super Kings on May 7.
