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Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag has been embroiled in another social media controversy after a video from the team hotel went viral online. The incident happened after Rajasthan Royals suffered a crushing five-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2026 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17.
Parag scored a brilliant half-century, but he had to bear the brunt of the failure of the middle order batting. Rajasthan Royals could only score 198/3 runs on the board at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, but Delhi Capitals achieved the target with five wickets remaining in the final over.
Riyan Parag pushes a young fan after RR vs DC defeat in IPL 2026
This defeat has almost ended RR’s hopes of qualifying for the IPL 2026 playoffs, as they now have only 12 points with two more games left to make any impact. Well, it was already a tough night for Rajasthan Royals and their young captain Riyan Parag.
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But things took a turn for the worse when a video showed Parag reacting angrily to a young fan who approached him for a picture and autograph at the team hotel. In the viral clip, the child walked towards Parag in the hope of clicking a picture with the RR captain.
However, Parag looked quite upset and irritated at that time. As soon as the child came closer, the RR Captain kept him close to him and asked him to move away while walking quickly.
See, at the team hotel, a small child came to take a picture with Riyan Parag, but he angrily scolded him and called him a “hat” and asked him to move away. pic.twitter.com/N9CVsVzUSt
– 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@Rushiii_12) 18 May 2026
The reaction was heavily criticized on social media, with many fans expressing disappointment at the way the young player was treated, while some felt that parents should not let their children violate cricketers’ privacy.
Sunil Gavaskar furious at Riyan Parag after RR’s shocking bowling against DC
It is noteworthy that Rajasthan Royals were still in a strong position, defending 193 runs, but then captain Riyan Parag took a surprising decision which completely changed the match. With Delhi Capitals needing 35 runs in the last three overs, Parag gave the ball to part-time spinner Donovan Ferreira for the 18th over.
The move went horribly wrong as Ferreira gave away 16 runs in the over, which included two huge sixes. That over completely turned the momentum towards Delhi Capitals and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized the RR captain for this big mistake.
It was a suicidal move: Sunil Gavaskar on Donovan Ferreira bowling 18th over
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports, “It was a suicidal move to give Donovan Ferreira the ball to bowl the 18th over. You are bringing a slow bowler on a pitch which is not giving him any help. He was just bowling in the slot. It was his first over of the match. He also made a golden duck with the bat. Sometimes you have to see where the luck is going that day.”
He further said, “If he had scored 40 or 50 runs and was full of confidence, there would have been some point in giving him an over. But he got out on the very first ball and yet you gave him the ball. He gave 16 runs in that over and the match was over. It was done and dusted.”
Ryan Parag could have handed the ball to a proper bowler, a regular bowler. Even if that bowler has given 20 runs, it does not mean anything. The point is that giving the ball to Donovan Ferreira at that crucial stage was a suicidal decision by Rajasthan Royals.
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