“Should’ve Finished It” – Broken Riyan Parag Reacts to RR Collapse: The Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered another gut-wrenching defeat in the 2025 IPL season, losing to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a mere two runs in a tense finish. Despite a dominant start in their chase of 181, RR faltered when it mattered most, failing to score nine runs in the final over with wickets in hand—a recurring nightmare for the franchise this season.
Openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (on debut) and Yashasvi Jaiswal set the stage with a blazing partnership, making the target look well within reach. However, as the innings progressed, the Royals’ middle order struggled to maintain momentum. Needing just nine off the last six balls, the batters froze under pressure, handing LSG a dramatic win.
Stand-in skipper Riyan Parag, leading in Sanju Samson’s absence, took responsibility for the loss. “We were in control until the 19th over, but we just couldn’t finish,” he admitted. “I should have taken charge in the end—this one’s on me.” His honest assessment highlighted RR’s biggest weakness this season: an inability to close out games.
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Earlier, LSG’s Abdul Samad smashed a quickfire cameo, pushing their total to 180—15-20 runs above what Parag felt was par. A costly final over from a usually reliable bowler proved decisive. Despite a strong start, RR’s middle order failed to accelerate when needed, leaving too much for the finishers. This was RR’s third loss in a close finish this season, raising questions about their mental toughness.
With only two wins in eight games, RR’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. They must address their finishing woes quickly or risk another disappointing season. Meanwhile, LSG’s victory strengthens their top-four push with 10 points so far.
Cricket is a game of small margins, and RR’s inability to handle pressure is costing them dearly. If they don’t fix their end-game execution soon, this season could slip away entirely.
