In Match No 63 of Tata IPL 2022, Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag courted controversy for his ridicule while taking a catch in a match against Lucknow Super Giants when he dismissed Marcus Stoinis at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday. Took a catch.
The event took a spot in the final over of the match when the Australian all-rounder Stoinis smashes hit on a low full toss from Prasidh Krishna for a six to begin the over.
However, on the next ball, he again tried to hit the ball over the boundary but only found Parag at long-on.
Riyan Parag determined to make a bit of a display of the catch as he pretended to almost touch the ball to the ground, a gesture that did not impress the commentators or even many audiences. He gestured that the ball had not touched the ground, possibly teased the third umpire.
Previously, Riyan Parag had claimed a catch of Stoinis but the third umpire ruled that the ball had touched to the ground before reaching the Rajasthan Royals player. Riyan Parag, nonetheless, found another chance to grip on to Stoinis’ catch in the last over.
After seeing his extraordinary gesture on the field, senior Australia and Chennai Super Kings batsman Matthew Hayden who was doing commentary he said, “I have got some advice for you young man, cricket is a very, very long game and we all have very long memories. Never ever tempt fate because it comes around quickly.”
“Future will determine that,” said former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, who was in the box with Hayden, when replays showed Parag’s gesture.
Riyan Parag faced a lot of criticism on social media for his act during match.
“Too much arrogance for a 20-21-year-old. That act of mocking the third umpire’s decision was shameless,” a fan tweeted.