IPL 2026: ‘He’s special, agree or not’- R Ashwin’s verdict as Riyan Parag silences critics after stunning 90

Riyan Parag delivered when it mattered most, producing a stunning 90 against Delhi Capitals to silence critics, with Ravichandran Ashwin leading the praise for the Rajasthan Royals captain. Taking to X, Ashwin wrote, “Agree or not, Riyan Parag is a special player.

He is letting his bat do all the talking today.”

The knock came under intense pressure for Parag, who had struggled for form this season. Before this game, he had scored just 117 runs, with a highest of 29, averaging 14.63 at a strike rate of 124.47. Off-field controversy had only added to the scrutiny. Parag was caught on camera allegedly vaping inside the dressing room during a match against Punjab Kings, with the clip going viral. He was later fined 25 percent of his match fee and handed a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct. With RR reduced to 12 for 2 after early dismissals of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Parag walked in with the team under immediate pressure. His start was scratchy, including a few uncertain shots against

Mitchell Starc

, who was playing his first game of the season. The turning point came in the sixth over when Parag took on Kyle Jamieson, smashing a sequence of 6, 4, 6 to shift momentum. That burst helped RR recover to 56 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and restored Parag’s confidence.

From there, his innings flowed. He reached his fifty in 32 balls and added a crucial 102-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who contributed 42. Parag’s strokeplay stood out, including a forehand-like six over covers off T Natarajan and a stunning uppercut among a flurry of boundaries. Even after Jurel’s dismissal, Parag maintained control, stitching together another useful stand with

Ravindra Jadeja

as RR pushed towards a strong total. He eventually fell for 90 off 50 balls, caught while trying to accelerate further. His effort laid the foundation for

Rajasthan Royals

’ 225 for 6, with Donovan Ferreira adding a late flourish with a rapid 47 off just 14 balls. On a night where questions surrounded him, Parag responded in the best way possible, with the bat doing all the talking, just as Ashwin pointed out.