Speaking about the incident, Riyan Parag said he observed Lockie Ferguson’s strike rate on the big screen was 147 as he walked in. After telling Jofra Archer that they could want a long-on, he quickly realised it was not required and hurried back to his starting place, hoping to arrive in time.
In the 18th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a commanding 50-run margin, earning them their second victory of the season.
The umpires’ suspicion of a possible violation of the fielding rule during the match’s last ball was an unusual moment. The match ended after a thorough examination determined that the pitch placing was legal.
“I watched Lockie enter, and I could see his strike rate on the large screen. On the final ball uncertainty, Riyan Parag remarked, “I told Jofra that he might need a long-on because it was 147, but I realised he didn’t need one, so I rushed back in, maybe just in time.”
The match’s climax came when the RR hitters put on a dominant display after PBKS invited them to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal, his opening partner, made an impressive 67 off 45, which included three fours and five sixes, while the captain got things moving with a quick 38 off 26 balls.
The middle-order hitters, including Shimron Hetmyer with a fast 20 off 12 and Riyan Parag with 43 off 25, provided strong support for the foundation. At the conclusion of their innings, the Royals scored 205 runs.
The RR bowlers seized control early on, as PBKS battled from the opening. Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer, the captain of PBKS, were removed by two strikes from England pacer Jofra Archer. Glenn Maxwell (30 off 21) and Nehal Wadhera (62 off 41) tried to rally, but their efforts were insufficient to catch the mark.
The Royals bowling attack continued to be unrelenting, and Archer won player of the match after finishing with figures of 3 for 25. With two wickets apiece, Sandeep Sharma anda Maheesh Theekshan also contributed significantly, helping RR earn two points.
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