In a thrilling opening match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Riyan Parag made history by becoming the youngest captain of Rajasthan Royals during their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The game took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on March 23, 2025. Parag, who has stepped in to lead the Royals in the absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, who has been ruled out for wicketkeeping duties due to a finger injury, faced the formidable Sunrisers. The match promised an exciting competition as both teams were vying for their respective second titles.
Winning the toss, Riyan Parag opted to bowl first, a decision that would soon prove challenging. The Sunrisers swung into action with Travis Head and Ishan Kishan starting their innings aggressively. Although Abhishek Sharma was dismissed early, Travis Head capitalized on the smooth pitch to wreak havoc on the Royals' bowlers, scoring 67 off just 31 deliveries. His quickfire innings set the stage for Kishan, who followed suit in spectacular fashion.
Ishan Kishan took the innings by storm, accumulating an impressive 106 runs off 47 balls, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad to a commanding total of 286 runs for the loss of six wickets. Kishan’s century not only marked a personal milestone but also underscored his return to form, especially after a troublesome season in 2024 when he lost his central contract over concerns of prioritizing IPL over domestic cricket. His performance in this match proved he still had much to offer to the team.
As the batters dominated, the Royals' bowling attack struggled significantly. Jofra Archer, RR's frontline bowler, had an especially poor outing, giving away 76 runs without taking any wickets—a record for the worst bowling figures in IPL history. Even though Tushar Deshpande managed a more respectable figure of 3/44, it was evident that the Royals' bowling lineup needed to find its footing quicker than hoped.
Despite the disastrous bowling performance, excitement peaked in the 12th over when a delivery by Deshpande was called wide by the umpire. Frustration mounted as both Deshpande and captain Parag visibly expressed their annoyance at the decision. Such moments highlighted the growing tension as Royals defenders struggled to contain the run flow.
The innings concluded with the Sunrisers posting an imposing target of 287 runs for the Royals to chase, reflecting a strong start to their campaign in IPL 2025. Parag and his team knew they had a significant mountain to climb. With only a few matches under his belt as a captain, expectations loomed heavily on Parag's shoulders, managing not just runs but the morale and dynamic of the team as well.
Entering their innings with high hopes, the Royals faced early setbacks as Simarjeet Singh dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over. Parag himself fell shortly after for only 4 runs, leaving the team struggling at the outset. Fans took to social media to voice their disappointment and even troll the young captain following the team's lackluster response to the huge target set by the Sunrisers.
Riyan Parag’s journey in the IPL has always been closely followed, especially after he lit up the tournament previously with 573 runs. His performances last season saw him become one of the sought-after players, and stepping up to captaincy was a major highlight in his career trajectory. As the Royals look to bounce back from this defeat, the team will rely on Parag's experience and growth to guide them through the season.
The match concluded with SRH overpowering RR, but the season is long and full of opportunities. Riyan Parag's leadership will be put to the test in upcoming matches as he attempts to lead the Royals back to their glory days in the IPL.
In post-match reflections, Riyan Parag acknowledged the challenge saying,
