'I thought me and Don had better chance of getting a wicket': Riyan Parag's explanation of giving Ravindra Jadeja-Ravi Bishnoi 1 over each

Days after Ravindra Jadeja won the ‘Player of the match’ award, defied match-ups to dismiss left-handed batter Nicholas Pooran, he was underbowled again. The impact player Ravi Bishnoi wasn’t introduced until the 11th over of the innings and didn’t bowl another over. Riyan Parag’s captaincy has been a double-edged sword for his team. He hasn’t had confidence in Jadeja who leaves his ego in hotel room before coming for the game. In the match-ups, he has not been able to use the spin resources well and it has showed.

After the game, Parag explained why Jadeja and Bishnoi bowled just one over. Also, why he and Donovan Ferreira bowled one over each. In addition, he went on to say that he would’ve have done anything different in hindsight. He would do the same all over again if a similar situation presents itself.

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“Well, I think there were two lefties and I thought me and Don had a better chance of getting a wicket and then I wanted Klaasen to come in and then get Ravi and Jaddu bhai in. But the wicket was not really spin-friendly. So I just had to manage four overs. Maybe less of an economy I would have liked that, but then it was a wicket where the pacers had to take wickets and the spinners had to just be there and control the economy. Didn't really go to plan, but would do the same thing next time as well,” Parag said in the post-match presentation.

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How Parag-Ferreira did in one-over spells

In his defense, Ferreira broke the second-wicket partnership. He got hit for a four and a six by Ishan Kishan but got the prized wicket of Abhishek Sharma. The SRH opener departed for a 29-ball 57. Before Ferreira, Parag introduced himself just after the powerplay overs. He was hit for a four each by Abhishek and Kishan. The skipper conceded 12 runs and erased the though of bowling another over in the game.

Not Jadeja-Bishnoi vs Arya-Connolly too?

After RR failed to defend a target of 229, their next match is against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 28. PBKS have two left-handers in their top-order – Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. Also, skipper Shreyas Iyer plays the spin well. It is yet to be seen whether Parag stays true to his word and adopts a similar approach and hold back Bishnoi-Jadeja if Arya and Connolly get going.