SRH vs RR: Riyan Parag clarifies decision to keep Ravindra Jadeja out of the bowling attack in Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag admitted that not using Ravindra Jadeja with the ball was a “split-second” call as his side went down to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.

The decision became a major talking point after Rajasthan Royals allowed SRH to post a formidable 216 for 6, with Jadeja not bowling a single over despite conditions later appearing to assist slower bowlers.

Explaining the call, Parag said it was driven by the match situation—particularly the dominance of Ishan Kishan during the middle overs.

“Jaddu bhai, I don’t know, it was just a split-second decision. Ishan was batting really well, so I didn’t want to take that chance,” Parag said, adding that he chose to stick with his existing bowling options.

In hindsight, the move raised questions as SRH capitalised on the lack of spin variation. Kishan’s 91 anchored the innings after early setbacks and allowed the hosts to rebuild before accelerating towards the end.

Parag also pointed to the nature of the surface, noting that it offered some help early on with the new ball before easing out, which made the timing of bowling changes more complicated.

While Jadeja didn’t get an opportunity with the ball, he contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 45 and stitching together a 118-run stand with Donovan Ferreira to revive the chase after an early collapse.

That collapse, however, proved decisive. Chasing 217, RR were reduced to 9 for 5 inside the first three overs, effectively putting the game beyond reach.

Although the middle order showed some resistance, the early damage was too severe to recover from. Parag acknowledged that while a few decisions could be second-guessed, the defeat was more about overall execution than any one tactical call.

He also credited SRH’s young seamers for setting the tone early, highlighting how effectively they used the conditions and pressure of a home crowd.

For Rajasthan, Parag described the loss as a minor setback and stressed the need to regroup quickly as the campaign progresses.