‘Man of Steel’: Ravi Shastri’s explosive verdict on Riyan Parag’s captaincy

rajasthan royals captain Ryanparag found himself at the center of a gripping IPL 2026 match as a bold late-match decision helped his team beat the Gujarat Titans by six runs in Ahmedabad. The decision was not only decisive but also earned the admiration of former India head coach Ravi Shastri. Defending with a score of 211 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rajasthan seemed to be in a comfortable position for most of the match. when Rashid Khan Kagiso Rabada launched a fierce counterattack and dragged Gujarat back into contention with a strike rate of nearly 200 runs. As momentum changes, the equation required for the last 12 balls drops to 15. At that critical stage, Parag chose to support Jofra Archer Penultimate end. The move paid off immediately. Archer worked relentlessly and used his pace effectively, leaving no room for the batsmen’s arms. The game produced only four points; Rashid Rabada was limited to singles and didn’t concede a goal, eventually reducing the deficit to 11 points. In the decisive final, Parag had the ball handed to him, further demonstrating his trust in his resources. Tushar Deshpande Ahead of more experienced options like Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma. Deshpande proved that belief by showing composure under pressure. He was consistent in beating yorkers, conceding just five runs, and dismissed Rashid to seal a dramatic victory for the Royals in a game that once looked on the decline. Shastri was quick to highlight the quality of the match and Parag’s composure and shared his reaction on Instagram. “This was undoubtedly one of the best matches in IPL history. Archive this match! Riyan Parag, you have nerves of steel and a bright future, especially in a leadership role. Great temperament. Well played!”

Parag later revealed that the decision to play Archer in the 19th over was influenced by Dhruv Jurel, who had earlier played a crucial role with the bat. “I was actually going to change the order, but credit goes to Jurel – he put me in the 19th game with Jofra,” he said, highlighting how that timely advice affected the outcome of the game.