Rajasthan Royals skipper Rayan Parag (ANI Image)
Rajasthan Royals skipper Ryan Parag found himself at the center of a thrilling contest in IPL 2026, as a bold late-game decision helped his side edge out Gujarat Titans by six runs in Ahmedabad. Not only was the call crucial, but it also impressed former India coach Ravi Shastri.Defending a massive 211 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rajasthan appeared to be cruising through large parts of the chase. That changed quickly when Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada launched a ferocious counter-attack, scoring nearly 200 runs to drag Gujarat back into the contention. With the momentum changing, the equation came down to 15 balls required from the last 12 balls.
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At that critical stage, Parag chose to retreat
Jofra Archer
To finish penultimately. The move paid off immediately. Archer stuck to the tough distances and used his speed effectively, not giving hitters room to free their arms. It resulted in just over four runs, with
Rashid
Rabada was limited to singles and no limits were conceded, tightening the equation to 11 from the final over.In the decisive final, Parag showed more confidence in his resources by handing the ball over to
Tusshar Deshpande
Ahead of more experienced options like Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma. Deshpande justified this faith with a calm display under pressure. He consistently outmaneuvered his teammates, conceding just five runs and dismissing Rashid, sealing a dramatic win for the Royals in what briefly looked like a skidding contest.
Shastri was quick to highlight the quality of the game and Parag’s composure, and shared his reaction on Instagram.“Simply one of the best games in the history of the Indian Premier League. Archive this game! Ryan Parag, you have a degree in steel and a great future ahead of you, especially in a leadership role. Great temperament. Well played!”
Shastri Insta Story
Parag later revealed that the call to give Archer the 19th over was influenced by Dhruv Gurriel, who had earlier played a crucial role with the bat.
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Which player do you think had the biggest impact on the match?
“I would have actually changed the order, but credit to Gurriel – he asked me to go with Jofra in the 19th over,” he said, emphasizing how that timely suggestion affected the outcome of the match.