Parag recently found himself embroiled in a 'vaping controversy'.
Chasing 221 to win, teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the LSG attack to cleaners, smashing 93 runs off 38 balls with 7 fours and 10 sixes. He added 105 runs for the second wicket Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls to take RR over the line with five deliveries to spare.
Following the crucial win, RR skipper Riyan Parag addressed the post-match press conference, where he did not miss the opportunity to send a message to IPL commentators who have been targeting him over his personal life.
Parag, who recently found himself embroiled in a 'vaping controversy', was asked how he deals with the social media chatter and trolling. In reply, he bluntly said “keyboard warriors” shouldn't affect his game or mindset, emphasizing that his priority is entirely on his team's performance and securing points for the playoffs.
"First, one thing I have understood now, you mentioned four years, that no matter what I do, people will talk. I have understood that much. Secondly, I have also understood that whatever talk is happening, it shouldn't affect my game, my form, or my mindset. Because keyboard warriors-that is outside work, and it should be left outside. And as far as how much I think about my game or how much belief I have in my game, I feel that shouldn't be overpowered by it," Parag told reporters.
"As far as whatever is going on in the IPL this year, a lot of things are happening outside. I feel this entire country loves cricket very much. We, as players, try to give our best whenever we go out, to perform for the crowd that has come and for the expectations they bring," he added.
Parag urged commentators to center their broadcasts purely on cricketing matters and leave personal attacks off-air, asserting that players are only human and mistakes are a normal part of the game.
"Players are working very hard. It's very easy to say when a team gets all out for 75 or 80 that they don't want to play or don't know how to play. Before that game, there must be three or four days of preparation, and there is preparation on how to score 220 or 250, but sometimes it doesn't happen. We are also human; mistakes happen from our side too.
"I feel, whatever is happening outside, especially commentators whose voices are reaching the people, I would just request them to love cricket, talk about cricket, and I feel a sport that is so important to a country, in which we are the best, I feel it should be treated with some respect and only cricket should be talked about, nothing else," he remarked.
Riyan Parag missed the game against LSG due to a hamstring strain. In his absence, opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped in as stand-in captain.
Rajasthan Royals will play their final league match of the season against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on May 24. It remains to be seen whether Parag will recover and return to the playing XI to lead the side in the decisive playoff-clashing fixture.