IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag Left Searching for Answers After Another Failed Chase Against LSG

Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered yet another heartbreaking loss in the IPL 2025, falling short by just two runs against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur. For the second consecutive match, RR botched a chase from a winning position, prompting stand-in captain Riyan Parag to admit he was "at a loss for words" after the defeat.

Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2025, Riyan Parag reaction, RR failed chase, Yashasvi Jaiswal batting, RR fourth consecutive loss.

 

Chasing 181 for victory, RR needed only 25 runs off 18 balls with eight wickets in hand. Yet, they collapsed under pressure, managing just 22 runs and losing the match by a narrow margin. This defeat comes just days after RR tied their game against Delhi Capitals and then lost in the Super Over, despite needing only 23 runs off 12 balls in that chase.

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Riyan Parag: "I Don't Know What We Did Wrong"

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Riyan Parag expressed deep frustration and confusion over the team's inability to close games out.

"I don't know what we did wrong. I felt we were in the game probably till the 18th over and 19th over, actually," said a visibly upset Parag. "But yeah, I don't know."

With three overs remaining, RR had a golden opportunity. Yashasvi Jaiswal was well set at 74 runs, and Parag himself was batting on 38. But disaster struck when Avesh Khan bowled a brilliant 18th over.

• First, Jaiswal was clean bowled by a pinpoint yorker.
• Then, Parag himself was trapped lbw trying to play a risky scoop shot.

Both set batters departed within the same over, leaving RR’s lower order with too much to do in the final stages.

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Parag Accepts Responsibility for Rajasthan Royals’ Defeat

Taking ownership of the situation, Parag said:

"I blame myself for this. I probably should have finished it in the 19th over."

However, he also admitted uncertainty about whether his decision-making at the crease was flawed.

"I don't know if that was a bad decision for myself. We just have to put one game together collectively for 40 overs. Only then can we expect a win."

The Royals' inability to stitch together a complete team performance has been their Achilles’ heel throughout IPL 2025.

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Final Over Collapse and Sandeep Sharma’s Expensive Over

RR were left needing 9 runs off the final over, with Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel at the crease. However, they could only manage six runs off Yash Thakur's composed final over, falling agonizingly short.

Parag also pointed out that one poor over during LSG’s batting innings tilted the balance.
Sandeep Sharma, usually reliable at the death, conceded 27 runs in the 20th over.
Abdul Samad smashed four sixes, propelling LSG’s total to 180, a score Parag admitted was above par on that surface.

"I think we did really well with the ball. The last over was unfortunate," Parag said. "I thought we would stop them at like 165 or 170 max. Sandy bhai is trusted. He just had one bad game, and Abdul Samad batted really well."

Acknowledging the damage, Parag said the team ended up chasing 15 to 20 runs more than ideal, but still should have finished the job.

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Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 Playoff Hopes Fading

This was Rajasthan Royals’ fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025, dropping them to eighth place in the points table. With only two wins from eight matches, the road to the playoffs is now extremely challenging.

RR will have a crucial five-day break before their next match, an away fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 24. The team will be desperate to regroup and correct their recurring mistakes if they want to salvage their IPL 2025 campaign.

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Key Takeaways from Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2025 Clash

• RR needed only 25 runs from 18 balls with 8 wickets in hand but lost by 2 runs.
• Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissals in the 18th over turned the tide.
• Final over failures continue to haunt RR after a Super Over defeat against Delhi Capitals.
• Sandeep Sharma's expensive last over added extra pressure.
• Rajasthan Royals drop to 8th place on the IPL 2025 points table with four consecutive losses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did Rajasthan Royals lose against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025?
   RR lost to LSG due to poor finishing in the last three overs despite having a strong position while chasing 181 runs.
2. What did Riyan Parag say after Rajasthan Royals’ narrow loss to LSG?
   Riyan Parag admitted he was at a loss for words and blamed himself for not finishing the game during the chase.
3. How many runs did Rajasthan Royals need in the last three overs against LSG?
   Rajasthan Royals needed just 25 runs off the last 18 balls but failed to achieve the target.
4. Who bowled the crucial 18th over that changed the game for LSG?
   Avesh Khan bowled the pivotal 18th over, dismissing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag with perfect yorkers.
5. How did Sandeep Sharma’s final over impact Rajasthan Royals' loss to LSG?
   Sandeep Sharma conceded 27 runs in the final over, allowing LSG to post an above-par score of 180.
6. What position do Rajasthan Royals hold on the IPL 2025 points table after losing to LSG?
   After their defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals dropped to eighth place in the IPL 2025 standings.
7. How many consecutive matches have Rajasthan Royals lost in IPL 2025?
   Rajasthan Royals have lost four matches in a row during their IPL 2025 campaign.
8. Who were the top scorers for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants?
   Yashasvi Jaiswal (74 runs) and Riyan Parag (38 runs) were the top scorers for Rajasthan Royals.
9. When is Rajasthan Royals' next IPL 2025 match after their loss to LSG?
   Rajasthan Royals will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 24, 2025, after a five-day break.
10. What went wrong for Rajasthan Royals in their chase against Lucknow Super Giants?
    Loss of set batters in the 18th over and failure to score in the final overs cost RR a win against LSG.