Eden Gardens hosted the classic IPL 2026 Like a Sunday thriller Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opposite square Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 28th game of the season. Although the match ended in the final, the real fireworks started after the game. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin He pulled no punches when criticizing his RR captain Rian Paragblamed the young leader for a tactical blunder that potentially cost the Royals the game.
Ravichandran Ashwin questions Riyan Parag on Ravindra Jadeja’s limited overs against KKR
In a scathing analysis on his YouTube channel, Ashwin accused Parag of not trusting Ravindra Jadejathe oldest and prized player of the team. Despite being the pick of the bowlers, Jadeja returned remarkable figures of 2/8 in just 3 overs and was not given his full quota of four overs, a move Ashwin finds inexcusable.
“You have a world class left arm spinner. Sure, numbers and data can tell you something, but he conceded just 9 or 11 runs in three overs and took two wickets.“,” Ashwin remarked. He suggested that Parag fall into the trap of over-analysis rather than supporting the hot hand.
“When Rinku Singh tried to bat, he was so close to getting out that you thought, “I’m an off-spinner; I can put pressure on these two left-handers, but Jaddu won’t.” You felt that while Ravi Bishnoi could, Jaddu couldn’t. I’m telling you, it’s a mindset,” he added, criticizing the Rajasthan Royals skipper.
He argued that protecting a veteran like Jadeja from left-handers sends a damaging message to the dressing room. “Maybe Jaddu bowls and the batter hits two sixes, but by not bowling him you are not showing confidence in your bowling unit in the long run.said Ashwin.
Ashwin further emphasized that such captaincy stifles a player’s confidence. “If a left-arm spinner knows he doesn’t want to fight a left-hander, he won’t even try. As a captain or team management, if you tell him “it’s none of your business”, look at the ball… if Ravindra Jadeja had taken the wicket of Rinku Singh, he would have been Man of the Match today,” he teased.
Ashwin drew sharp comparisons with the batting majors, concluding: “Do you ever not send Mitchell Marsh to bat? Are you not sending Rishabh Pant? Aren’t you sending Nicholas Poora? This never happens. So what I’m saying is if you can take Brijesh Sharma who has no IPL experience and give him the 18th and 20th overs in his first game, you can definitely give them to Jadeja.“
Rinku Singh powers KKR to a dramatic victory over RR in IPL 2026
The tactical debate over Jadeja’s usage has come into focus due to the narrow margin of RR’s defeat. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a modest 155/9. The shots started brightly Vaibhav Sooryavanshi off 46 off 28 balls supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal 39. But the KKR spin duo Varun Chakraborty (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) stifled the middle order, leaving RR with a sub-par total.
In reply, KKR’s chase was smooth. Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja tore through the top order, leaving KKR at 85/6 in the 14th over. Jadeja was lethal, he removed Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rovman Powell 2.66 while maintaining economy.
But the game changed when Parag chose to use himself and the inexperienced Brijesh Sharma In the closing stages, rather than ending Jadeja’s innings. Rinku Singh Seizing the opportunity, he chased down a brilliant, unbeaten 53 off 34 balls. It is supported by a delayed camera Anukul Roy (16 off 29), Rinku guided KKR to 161/6 and a 4-wicket victory with two balls to spare. While Chakraborty takes home the Man of the Match trophy, something about Jadeja’s inactivity will haunt the Kings camp.
Also WATCH: Jofra Archer smashes Tim Seifert’s stumps with absolute gusto on a golden duck during the KKR vs RR contest.
