March 31, 2025: In a thrilling encounter during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Rajasthan Royals secured a narrow 6-run victory over Chennai Super Kings, ending their losing streak. The match saw a collective team effort, with explosive performances across both batting and bowling departments. Nitish Rana, who played a key role in Rajasthan’s win with a blistering 81 off 36 balls, gave his thoughts on the match and the performance of Rajasthan’s young captain, Riyan Parag.
Riyan Parag, who took over as the captain of Rajasthan Royals after a tough start to the season, was under the spotlight. Despite facing criticism following two defeats, the 23-year-old led his team to their first win in the tournament. Nitish Rana, speaking at the post-match press conference, shared his thoughts on Parag’s leadership, stressing that captaincy should not be judged solely on results. “I think captaincy is result-oriented. If you win, you are considered a good captain, but I don’t believe so. Riyan is calm as a captain,” Rana remarked, highlighting that Parag’s composed nature in the leadership role has been an asset for the team.
In a match where momentum shifted constantly, Nitish credited Parag’s leadership and a critical moment in the field as the turning point. During the match, Rajasthan’s bowlers had to defend a competitive total of 182/9, and it was Riyan Parag’s one-handed stunner to dismiss Shivam Dube that was deemed the game’s pivotal moment. “Riyan’s catch was the important turning point of the game,” Rana said when asked about the most significant moment that changed the course of the match.
Despite Rajasthan putting up a challenging total, Nitish felt that they were slightly short of the ideal score, suggesting that a target of 200 runs would have been ideal. However, Rajasthan’s bowlers, led by Jofra Archer’s brilliant spell in the powerplay, proved to be the difference. “I thought we were 15 to 20 runs short. But a 180-run total was ideal on this surface. Credit goes to Jofra Archer for his remarkable spell in the powerplay,” he added, acknowledging the impact of Archer’s fiery bowling that left Chennai Super Kings reeling early in their chase.
With this win, Rajasthan Royals have not only broken their losing streak but also demonstrated resilience and team spirit, with Riyan Parag’s calm leadership playing a crucial role in their successful campaign in IPL 2025.