Rajasthan Royals’ young all-rounder Riyan Parag has once again found himself under the spotlight, but this time for reasons unrelated to his on-field performances. The Assam-born cricketer, who led RR to their first victory in IPL 2025 against Chennai Super Kings, was seen celebrating with the ground staff at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. However, a seemingly playful act during the post-match festivities has stirred controversy on social media.

A viral video from Sunday’s match shows Parag taking a selfie with the ground staff before tossing the phone back in their direction instead of handing it over properly. While the act may have been in good humor, it did not sit well with a section of social media users, who found it disrespectful. The video quickly gained traction online, with several fans criticizing Parag for his behavior. Some labeled it as an unnecessary and careless act, while others defended the 22-year-old, insisting it was harmless fun.

Parag’s struggles in IPL 2025

Beyond the off-field controversy, Parag has endured a difficult start to the 2025 IPL season. Despite a breakthrough IPL 2024 campaign—where he scored 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.22—he has failed to replicate that form this year. In the first three matches, he has managed only 66 runs in 3 matches, adding to RR’s concerns, especially with captain Sanju Samson’s absence due to injury.

CSK vs RR match summary

Despite Parag’s struggles with the bat, Rajasthan Royals secured a hard-fought six-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling contest.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) Innings: 182/9

Nitish Rana 81(36)

Riyan Parag 37(28)

Matheesha Pathirana 2/28(4 overs)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Innings: 176/6

Ruturaj Gaikwad 63(44)

Ravindra Jadeja 32*(22)

Wanindu Hasaranga 3/35(4 overs)

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