Kumar Sangakkara believes Rajasthan Royals have found the “absolute right guy” in Riyan Parag, even though the new skipper has managed 272 runs at 24.72 this IPL season.
The Royals booked their play-off place with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Sunday, and Sangakkara used the post-match chat to defend his young captain.
“I think I’ve seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has for about seven years now,” he said in Mumbai. “Ever since I came to the franchise, there are always people who like Riyan, but there are a lot of people who didn’t really like him, especially on social media. But that’s the reality of the modern game.
“When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he is the absolute right guy to lead this franchise. I have no doubt in my mind.”
Parag, who took over from Sanju Samson, has struck only two fifties and was fined earlier in the competition after cameras caught him vaping during a match in New Chandigarh. He admitted he has been dealing with a “tough phase” off the field. A hamstring strain kept him out of the previous fixture, but on Sunday he insisted on playing – “was not supposed to play”, as he put it – and chipped in with a useful 14 from eight balls as Royals posted 205 for 8.
Sangakkara likes what he sees behind the numbers. “If you look at the calls he makes as captain, the confidence with which he drives himself, almost on one foot sometimes to come and play, there’s a huge amount of positivity,” he said. “I think he’s captained exceptionally well. And when he’s in that dressing room, he’s got the respect of all the players and the staff. That’s all you can ask for.
“What happens in the next few years, I think it’s a really interesting relationship we have to build with the franchise and Riyan, and really help him develop as a captain, as a batter, as a person, and keep supporting him. He’s a very, very good young man… I’m very, very proud of him.”
Why did Archer walk in at 7?
The Royals’ tactics generated a few raised eyebrows. Against Delhi Capitals last week they held Jofra Archer back, then burned their Impact Player on Dasun Shanaka and had to make do with part-time overs. On Sunday they flipped it: with 43 balls still left after the fifth wicket, Archer was sent out ahead of Shubham Dubey. When Dubey fell in the 18th, he was subbed out for seamer Ravin (insert surname), restoring the bowling balance.
It looked messy on paper but worked on the night. Archer’s brisk 21 – his highest IPL score – kept the rate moving, and the late bowling switch gave Sangakkara five proper options when Mumbai chased.
There is room for tidier execution, yet the Royals are in the knock-outs again, their young captain still learning, their head coach still convinced.
