Sudarshanan will be in for the chase. Let me see if I can get a couple comments in
Sampath’s stat: Before this IPL, Riyan Parag was one of the two batters with 1000-plus T20 runs at No.4 with a strike rate of 150-plus and 40-plus average. Suryakumar Yadav being the other. However, Parag batted only twice at that No.4 position in his 54-match IPL career till 2023.
Sai: “RR were literally 58/3 in 10 overs, so this is a remarkable recovery ft. Ash, Parag and Hettie!!!”
Anshul: “Parag has finally started to live up to the hype around him”
Riyan Parag: [Last over] It’s a result of a lot of practice behind the scenes. It’s not the bowler but the ball he’s bowling and I practised against a lot of those balls and could execute the shots tonight. I have my options ready both sides of the wicket, that’s what I’ve been working on lately. I back myself, I know I have the power to dig out yorkers and hit sixes off short balls. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. [Being 26 at run a ball] Sanga and Sanju bhaiyya came in and told me to do it deep, knew I’d go big at the end if I did. For someone coming in, it’s not easy but not as much for someone set. It’s been tough, I am a bit emotional right now. But it’s been a lot of work. Backed myself, practiced a lot, seeing the fruits of it now.
9:24pm 58 off Parag’s last 19 balls, says Simon Katich. It was ridiculous hitting. Whether the bowling was on point or not, it was sensational. You don’t just hit both sides of the wicket with that good a connection repeatedly. There were things that happened before but who cares? I mean, if living in the moment was this fun, self-help people wouldn’t have had to use it so much. Anyway, it’s a great score. Parag started well, carried the innings together. Ashwin played a handy cameo. Capitals’ new-ball bowlers were great. Axar tried holding them down. Kuldeep was good but was taken down. I’m just typing words on autopilot.
Nortje to Parag, 1 run, A bit anticlimactic but the final over goes for two million anyway. Yorker on leg, 144ks, helped along to deep fine leg.
