Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Manoj Tiwary criticized Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag for making confusing public statements during IPL 2026. The cricket-turned analyst questioned why Parag made unclear statements during recent broadcaster interviews during the ongoing tournament.
The Royals defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 30 runs in their final group stage match on Sunday, May 24, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following the victory, the franchise secured their qualification for the playoffs. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Eliminator on Wednesday, May 27, in Mullanpur.
Riyan Parag returned to the playing XI to lead Rajasthan Royals in the must-win clash after missing previous matches because of a recurring hamstring injury. Speaking during the post-match presentation, the captain admitted that he was not fully fit but pushed himself mentally to play for the team.
“I am definitely not fit, I was not supposed to play tonight and not play another game as well but it was all mental toughness. Jofra is hard as a rock, Jaddu bhai has got a couple of niggles but he has got the sword and he should be fine,” the captain said during the post-match presentation.
Despite returning for the crucial match, Parag struggled with the bat and scored only 14 runs from eight balls before getting dismissed by Allah Ghazanfar. He had scored back-to-back half-centuries in his previous two appearances.
Do Not Make Such Statements That No One Understands – Manoj Tiwary Slams Riyan Parag
Manoj Tiwary questioned why Riyan Parag publicly shared detailed injury updates after the match. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary said that the comments created confusion because different members of the franchise had given different explanations regarding player fitness during the season.
“I could not understand what he was trying to say through that statement. Saying that he was injured, and he played through mental toughness, and even before this, he said that Ravindra Jadeja is being rested due to workload management, then the fielding coach is saying something else, so there are a lot of things here,” Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.
“He can be happy that he has taken the team to the playoffs as a captain. So, enjoy, but while enjoying it, do not make such statements that no one understands,” he added.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Fitness Remains Key Ahead of RR’s Eliminator Clash
Ravindra Jadeja’s fitness remains a major concern for Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 playoffs. The all-rounder missed two consecutive matches against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) because of a knee niggle and an elbow injury.
Jadeja returned for the must-win clash against Mumbai Indians as Rajasthan Royals fought to secure a playoff spot. The franchise used him only as an Impact Player, and he contributed an important late cameo by scoring 19 runs from 11 balls during the chase.
Rajasthan Royals have qualified for the playoffs three times in the last five seasons. The team will next travel to Mullanpur for the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 27, hoping to bounce back after their recent defeat against the same opposition.
Also read: Ravindra Jadeja fitness update: Kumar Sangakkara issues concerning medial bulletin
