Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag attended the press conference after his team’s thrilling victory over the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Tuesday. The win gave them playoff qualification hopes a big boost, leaving the team only a win away from booking a spot as well.
“First, one thing I have understood now, you mentioned four years, that no matter what I do, people will talk,” Parag said. “I have understood that much. Secondly, I have also understood that whatever talk is happening, it shouldn’t affect my game, my form, or my mindset. Because keyboard warriors-that is outside work, and it should be left outside. And as far as how much I think about my game or how much belief I have in my game, I feel that shouldn’t be overpowered by it.”
“As far as whatever is going on in the IPL this year, a lot of things are happening outside. I feel this entire country loves cricket very much. We, as players, try to give our best whenever we go out, to perform for the crowd that has come and for the expectations they bring,” he further added.
Riyan Parag further slammed IPL experts and commentators, saying that players make mistakes and that it is pretty normal. However, he also argued that lines are crossed when comments are made on a player’s personal life or matters outside the cricket ground as well.
“Players are working very hard. It’s very easy to say when a team gets all out for 75 or 80 that they don’t want to play or don’t know how to play. Before that game, there must be three or four days of preparation, and there is preparation on how to score 220 or 250, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. We are also human; mistakes happen from our side too,” he added.
“I feel, whatever is happening outside, especially commentators whose voices are reaching the people, I would just request them to love cricket, talk about cricket, and I feel a sport that is so important to a country, in which we are the best, I feel it should be treated with some respect and only cricket should be talked about, nothing else,” he concluded.
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