Former India head coach Ravi Shastri praised Rajasthan Royals for their consistent team performance this season. He said the players have shown clarity in their roles and have worked well together in different situations. He also mentioned that the team looks balanced and prepared, which is helping them perform steadily. Speaking about Riyan Parag, Shastri said he has shown maturity with both bat and captaincy. He noted that Parag looks more confident now and is handling responsibility better, which is a positive sign for the team going forward.
“This is right up there with the best,” said Ravi Shastri for the last-over thriller between the Titans and the Royals. “Matches like these are about handling pressure. Rajasthan stayed clear in their plans. That final over showed control and skill,” he added. “No panic, just execution. That’s what separated the two sides in the end.”
The contest remained close until the very end. The Rajasthan Royals had scored 210/6 in their 20 overs while the Gujarat Titans ended their innings on 204/8. There was a decline in GT’s chase from 107/1 to 133/5 during an important stage. The bowling figure of Bishnoi stood at 4/41.
All these aspects came together in defining the true character of the game. This was not only a victory but also a comeback story for Rajasthan. They were not dominant throughout the entire game, but when it mattered most, they pounced on the opportunity. Hence, they deserve the credit after the match concluded.
Aakash Chopra and Irfan Pathan Heap praise on Riyan Parag’s captaincy and RR’s game plan
Apart from Shastri, former players and commentators including Aakash Chopra, Ravi Ashwin as well as Irfan Pathan also didn’t hold themselves back and lauded the Royals for their leadership and tactics used in the game. Chopra pointed to the middle overs and said that it was Ravi Bishnoi who changed the game completely. He said, “Ravi Bishnoi changed the match completely. Gujarat had it in control before that phase.” “And then Deshpande’s final over sealed it.”
Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan underlined Rajasthan’s tactical accuracy and heaped praise on Parag’s leadership skills. He said, “Really impressed with Riyan Parag’s leadership here. Big call to decide whether Archer bowls the 19th or the last and he nailed it. Backed more experienced bowler with high pace in the penultimate over, and it completely shut the game down. That’s where matches are won.”
In addition, former Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin spoke about RR’s crucial tactics and highlighted the last moment changes made by Parag in the bowling lineup for the penultimate over. “All of us were confident that Nandre Burger would bowl the final over. The trust Riyan Parag had in Tushar Deshpande was a big risk,” Ashwin stated. “If Tushar had not delivered like this, it would have been a very difficult question to answer for Riyan Parag.”
Notably, the Royals will now be up against the Mumbai Indians on April 7 in Guwahati.
