IPL 2023: Unfortunately, he hasn’t been in good form, we will assess that – Kumar Sangakkara on Riyan Parag

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has admitted that Riyan Parag hasn’t been in good form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023 and they will assess him. Parag could only score 15 runs off 12 balls in the run-chase of 155 runs against Lucknow Super Giants and once again failed to deliver the goods for the team on Wednesday.

The right-hander hasn’t been able to justify his talent in the tournament as he has scored 576 runs in 52 IPL matches at an average of 16.46 and a strike rate of 123.61.

Before the clash against LSG, Parag returned with scores of seven, 20, five, and seven.

Sangakkara said at a post-match press conference:“In that situation (last couple of overs), he can just go out and hit as many sixes as quickly as he can. It’s a very clear plan that Riyan has. We had Dhruv (Jurel) to kind of take care of the pace and we just needed 2-3 sixes in the middle overs.

“He’s (Parag) been batting well in the nets. We do back our players quite well, especially when he comes in as an impact sub for us or DDP (Devdutt Padikkal) comes in as an impact substitute, looking at the local talent that we have. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been in good form. We will assess that and address that at his training and see where we get to over the next few games.”

On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal scored 26 runs from 21 balls and he also failed to accelerate towards the end before he was dismissed by Avesh Khan.

Sangakkara admitted his team was not committed enough in the run-chase of 155 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler added 87 runs for the opening alliance but they veered off the track in the second phase of the innings. The former Sri Lankan skipper admitted the middle order could not capitalize on the good start.

“At the back end, especially (Ravi) Bishnoi’s last over, we weren’t committed enough to take him down look for three four sixes. Even if the batter got out that time it didn’t matter. It was a tough pitch. Lucknow bowled really smartly but at the same time we should have got over the line.”

“The openers put on a very good stand. We were needing eight once the 12th over was finished with 10 wickets in hand, that’s not very difficult on a big ground.”

Rajasthan Royals will next take Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.