IPL 2021: RR’s Riyan Parag bowls roundarm to Chris Gayle, reminds of Kedar Jadhav, Manoj Tiwary

Riyan Parag, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) cricketer, is known more for his batting than his bowling. With only 52 wickets to his name, the 19-year-old from Guwahati, Assam hasn’t gotten a lot of chances to bowl. Playing for the Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he hasn’t gotten many chances to roll his arms over either. But on Monday, April 12, the leg-spinner did get an opportunity to show his prowess.

Parag got a chance to bowl in the Royals’ first game of the 2021 IPL against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After the Royals opted to bowl first, skipper Sanju Samson introduced him into the attack in the 10th over. In his very first delivery, KL Rahul, the PBKS skipper, went back and across and smashed him for a four through the cover region.

In the third ball of the over, Parag went for an experiment with his action. The tweaker went round the wicket and bowled roundarm to the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, who drove the ball to long off for a single. His bowling action was pretty reminiscent of Kedar Jadhav and Manoj Tiwary. Later, the on-field umpires asked Parag to be a tad careful with his action.

Here’s the video:

The ball must be above shoulder level before it is released, or it will be deemed to be underarm & contrary to Law 21.1.2. This is a decision for the umpires to make.

This particular delivery by Riyan Parag was borderline – what are your thoughts?

📹@IPL#Ipl2021 pic.twitter.com/qjRqq0RsS0

— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) April 13, 2021

Riyan Parag dismisses Gayle

Parag’s action might just have distracted Gayle to some extent. In the next ball that Gayle faced off the spinner, he got out. The Jamaican tried to clear the long-on region with the power he had, but couldn’t get enough timing. In the end, Ben Stokes took a sharp catch to send the 41-year-old packing.

Gayle was looking ominous, having scored 40 off 28 with four fours and two sixes. Gayle and Rahul had stitched together a partnership of 67 runs off 7.1 overs. Even as Gayle got out, Rahul went on to notch a classy half-century. After being put in to bat first, PBKS didn’t have an auspicious start.

IPL debutant Chetan Sakariya pinned Mayank Agarwal, who scored 14 off nine with two fours. The pacer found the right-hander’s outside-edge to send him back. The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium hasn’t had much for the bowlers.