SRH vs RR: Riyan Parag breaks down call to not bowl Ravindra Jadeja in Hyderabad clash

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag conceded that the decision to not hand the ball to Ravindra Jadeja was taken in the moment as his side fell to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.

The move drew attention after Rajasthan Royals conceded 216 for 6, with Jadeja going unused despite the surface later offering some grip for slower bowlers. Parag explained that the call was influenced by the game situation, particularly the way Ishan Kishan was batting during the middle phase.

“Jaddu bhai, I don’t know, it was just a split-second decision. Ishan was batting really well, so I didn’t want to take that chance,” he said, adding that he preferred to continue with the options already in operation. In hindsight, the absence of Jadeja’s spin proved costly as SRH were able to build momentum. Kishan’s 91 anchored the innings after early wickets and allowed the hosts to accelerate.

Parag also highlighted the nature of the pitch, which he felt had some assistance early on before becoming easier for batting, making bowling changes a tricky call.

Jadeja, however, made his presence felt with the bat, scoring 45 and adding 118 runs with Donovan Ferreira to steady the chase after an early setback. But the damage had already been done. Chasing 217, RR slumped to 9 for 5 in the first three overs, leaving themselves with too much to do.

Despite a middle-order fightback, the early collapse proved decisive. Parag admitted that while certain decisions could be revisited, the loss ultimately came down to execution rather than a single tactical error. He also credited SRH’s young pacers for their impact with the new ball, acknowledging how effectively they seized the early advantage.

For Rajasthan, the skipper termed it a minor blip and stressed the need to bounce back quickly as the tournament progresses.