With Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Riyan Parag’s bat being inspected twice by the umpires, head coach Rahul Dravid’s reaction has taken the internet by storm. The incident occurred during their IPL 2025 fixture against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday, April 16. Bat inspections by on-field umpires have become a frequent sight this season.
Umpires have been using measuring gauges to check the legality of bats, and notable players like Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje have even failed the checks. In the RR vs DC encounter, Parag’s bat was examined twice during his time at the crease.
As Parag engaged in a conversation with the umpire regarding the checks, it was Rahul Dravid’s cold and visibly annoyed expression on the sidelines that captured everyone’s attention and quickly went viral. You can watch the video here:
The umpires are doing their job and #RiyanParag’s bat is under scrutiny! 🧐
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/nbBEFOkjkM #IPLonJioStar 👉 #DCvRR | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/o68pxrSrje
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 16, 2025
Riyan Parag Unable To Seal Win For RR, Draws Criticism For Opting Out Of Super Over
Delhi Capitals batted first and put up a competitive total of 188/5 in their 20 overs. Rajasthan Royals began the chase strongly and appeared to be in control of the match. However, a major setback came when Sanju Samson, who was looking in great touch with 31 off 19 balls, was forced to retire hurt.
Riyan Parag stepped in next but found it tough against the spinners. Despite hitting a boundary, he couldn’t find any rhythm and was eventually dismissed for just 8 runs from 11 deliveries. Although Nitish Rana brought stability back to the innings with a blistering 51 off 28 balls, some outstanding death bowling from Delhi Capitals pushed the game into a Super Over.
In a surprising move, Parag was chosen to bat alongside Shimron Hetmyer in the Super Over, while Rana, who was in red-hot form, was left out. This decision sparked backlash from fans. Rajasthan could only manage 11 runs in the Super Over, which Delhi chased down comfortably to secure the win.
Many viewers criticized Parag for taking the crease despite his earlier struggles and questioned the decision to send him over Rana.
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