During the two-month duration of recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), there were many heartwarming between players across nations. However, in the heat of the moment there was an altercation between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowlers Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Rajasthan Royals (RR) batting all-rounder Riyan Parag. More than a week after Royals’ final loss to Gujarat Titans (GT), Parag has opened up on the encounter.
Parag revealed that he remembered the send-off he received in the previous season from Patel and made a similar gesture after hitting him for 18 runs in an over.
“Last year, Harshal Patel had dismissed me when we were playing against RCB. I was walking back. Then, he made a hand gesture telling me to go away. I didn't see that on the spot. I saw that when I went back to the hotel and saw the replay. It stuck in my mind since,” Parag said on a gaming stream for Rooter.
"Now, when I hit him (Harshal) in the last over (against RCB in IPL 2022), I did the same gesture. I didn't say anything, I didn't abuse. But then, Siraj called me. Harshal didn't say anything," he added.
The 20-year-old also revealed that it was Siraj who instigated the short exchange of words in the middle. Also, the youngster recalled that Patel did not shake hands with him after the game and termed it "immature" of the Indian all-rounder.
"When the innings ended, Siraj called and said, “Hey, come here, come here'. He said, 'you're a kid, behave like a kid'. I told him, 'bhaiya, I'm not saying anything to you'. By then, players from both the teams came and it ended there. Later, Harshal didn't shake my hand. which I thought was a little immature,” Parag further added.
The Guwahati-born batter was one of the best fielders in the Royals side and mainly patrolled the boundaries. He batted lower down the order and scored 183 runs from 17 games at an average of 16.64 including one half-century. He was roped in at IPL 2022 mega auctions for Rs 3.80 crore by the inaugural champions after a bidding war with Titans.
