‘Extra He Bats, The Higher’ – Rahul Dravid Hails Rajasthan Royals Star as ‘One in all Their Finest’ in IPL 2025
Two video games, two losses, and the Rajasthan Royals are already beneath strain. However for a staff that usually begins gradual and grows into the match, there’s no panic within the camp—solely a concentrate on getting the items in place. And a kind of key items, maybe an important one, is on the coronary heart of a daring strategic shift this 12 months.
Rajasthan Royals are chasing a brand new components in IPL 2025: identical core, barely reimagined roles. Their batting stays top-heavy, their bowling nonetheless reliant on match-ups and tempo, however there’s one transfer that stands out. A promotion that displays perception, not simply in potential, however in temperament, maturity, and upside.
That transfer? Elevating a participant beforehand seen as a finisher into the highest order. Somebody who’s now not only a promising expertise with flashes of brilliance, however somebody the Royals consider generally is a match-winner throughout codecs, throughout situations.
Rahul Dravid has a plan for Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag is now not the ‘mission’. He’s the plan.
After years of floating across the center and lower-middle order, Parag lastly discovered his groove in IPL 2024. Batting at No. 4, he piled up 573 runs at a median of 52.09 and a strike charge of 149.2—a marketing campaign that turned heads and silenced long-time critics. This 12 months, the Royals have gone one step additional. He’s now their No. 3, their anchor and aggressor in a single, the batter who they need dealing with probably the most deliveries.
“Riyan is considered one of our greatest batters, let’s be trustworthy. And we wish to give him as many balls as we probably can. Twenty overs is a really brief time and the extra balls Riyan Parag bats for us, the higher it’s for us as a staff,” Rahul Dravid stated.
It’s a easy logic, and but a daring one. Within the Royals’ setup—the place they discipline solely six correct batters most video games—elevating somebody to No. 3 means they’ve backed him to do the heavy lifting. Parag is now backed to do the massive innings, the momentum shifts and likewise the sensible consolidations.
It’s not simply the runs. It’s how he’s main, too. With Sanju Samson nonetheless nursing a finger harm and restricted to taking part in as an Influence substitute, Parag has additionally stepped in as captain. And whereas outcomes haven’t gone their manner but—losses to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders—his on-field selections have drawn reward.
“Even within the recreation in opposition to KKR, his courageous determination to deliver himself on [to bowl], realising that the wicket was turning… that was a courageous determination and an accurate determination,” stated Dravid. “He’s been very spectacular.”
There’s a sure calmness to Parag this 12 months, a readability that wasn’t all the time evident up to now. Perhaps it’s the management position, perhaps it’s simply time. He’s now not attempting to show that he belongs; he’s performing like somebody who is aware of he does.
Huge Weekend for Rajasthan Royals
Sunday’s clash against Chennai Super Kings is Guwahati’s closing recreation of the season, and Parag’s final probability to placed on a present in entrance of his house followers. It’s additionally shaping up as a must-win for the Royals after two early losses. One other defeat would depart them scrambling early within the season.
Parag nonetheless must justify the religion Dravid and Co. have in him this time. He scored simply 4 and 25 in his two innings to date, however it’s not alarming but.
“Truthfully, the transfer to No. 3 was a optimistic transfer to attempt to give him extra time to bat. And we all know how damaging a participant he’s… if he will get extra time, then he can rating extra runs and that may profit the staff,” Dravid stated.
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The Royals’ strategy—mild on batting depth, centered on match-winners—is unconventional within the IPL, particularly with hovering scoring charges. However Dravid sees no have to rethink simply but. “We really had seven bowling choices within the taking part in XI… Hasaranga at No. 8, Shimron at eight, Jofra at 9… I believe there’s sufficient depth.”
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