Riyan Parag of Rajasthan Royals remained on target of cricket fans on social media during the IPL 2022 thanks to his antics on the field and ability to miff off opposition players and umpires by taunts and actions.
One such incident happened during the 39th match of the IPL 2022 between RR and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RR had batted first and managed 144/8 in 20 overs with Riyan Parag scoring 56* in 31 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours. The last over of the RR innings went for 18 runs with Parag hitting Harshal Patel for a boundary and two sixes in the over.
However, after the innings, Harshal and Riyan Parag got into a heated altercation which led to RR and RCB players separating the two. It seemed like Harshal was not happy with Parag saying or gesturing something to him and looked unhappy.
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RR won the match after RCB managed only 115 runs with Kuldeep Sen taking 4/20 and Parag taking 4 catches. Parag and Harshal refused to shake hands as well after the match ended.
Now, Parag has finally opened up on the incident during a gaming stream on Rooter.
“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 recalled as he narrated the incident.
“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. 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 said.
Check out Parag telling his side of story here:
(HT inputs)
