A brand new-look Rajasthan Royals haven’t had one of the best of begins within the Indian Premier League 2025 season, with the workforce led by Riyan Parag slumping to 2 back-to-back losses in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders to begin their marketing campaign on a sombre be aware. Within the absence of normal captain Sanju Samson, Parag has been given the function of captain for the primary three matches whereas Samson recovers from his damage.
The 23-year-old has additionally promoted himself to No 3 after batting at No 4 in 2024. Parag, who performed the function of finisher for RR earlier than 2024 stepped as much as bat one down in a line-up dominated by Indian core. Nonetheless, with scores of 4 and 25, he has but to maximise his potential at this new place, RR head coach Rahul Dravid believes that selling ‘one among their finest batters’ up the order was the appropriate choice.
“That’s the appropriate phrase to make use of, that he’s promoted. Riyan is one among our greatest batters, let’s be sincere. And we need to give him as many balls as we presumably can. Twenty overs is a really quick time and the extra balls Riyan Parag bats for us, the higher it’s for us as a workforce,” Dravid was quoted by ESPNCricinfo on Saturday.
“However truthfully, the transfer to No. 3 was a optimistic transfer to try to give him extra time to bat. And we all know how harmful a participant he’s and if he will get extra time, then he can rating extra runs and that may profit the workforce. In order that was the pondering, however we will at all times assess that, and we will at all times see the way it’s going. And I believe he’s fairly comfy, he’s greater than able to batting at any place,” added Dravid.
Nonetheless, Dravid didn’t rule out the potential of RR being versatile if obligatory. “However, after all, we’ll proceed to take a look at, assess, and see how issues go. And, sure, we all know Riyan has completed exceptionally effectively at No. 4, so this provides us an choice.
Dravid — who has additionally coached Parag in the course of the 2018 Beneath 19 World Cup the place India had received the cup below Prithvi Shaw — additionally heaped praises on Parag’s ‘courageous selections’.
“Even within the sport in opposition to KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), his courageous choice to carry himself on (with the ball), realising that the wicket was turning, with two left-handers batting, to bowl the fifth over within the powerplay, was a courageous choice and an accurate choice. So I believe he’s been very spectacular. As a captain, it’s good for him to get this chance until Sanju is ready to subject once more. And he’s sharing his ideas and his concepts. Very clear. He’s very stable in that sense,” he mentioned.