Former New Zealand pacer and cricket commentator Simon Doull has clarified his comments on Rajasthan Royals youngster Riyan Parag after an uproar on social media. Notably, Parag has been a regular member of the RR outfit for the last four seasons in the IPL.

A cricket fan took to Twitter to point out that Simon Doull questioned RR’s decision to field Parag despite his modest record and that was right, but he should not have called the RR youngster a social media star on national TV. Doull took note of the fan’s tweet and explained his statement.

In the recent Ranji Trophy, the Assam cricketer scored 293 from six innings at an average of 48.83 with his highest being 91 (vs Uttar Pradesh). He also took seven wickets at an average of 24.42. However, he has not been able to replicate the same form in the ongoing season of IPL.

I think you missed the point. The social media says to me he is popular and well liked but that doesn’t count when he is in the middle.. Runs and strike rate is his currency and IMO it’s not good enough. Maybe it’s lost in translation a little sorry.. ???? Enjoy the game..

— Simon Doull (@Sdoull) April 5, 2022

“Simon Doull on-air questioning RR’s decision to play Riyan Parag who has modest record.I think that is a fair opinion. But then he concludes by saying that I know Riyan is a social media star but that doesn’t count in a match. Why would any commentator say that on national TV?

“Riyan Parag is someone who has already faced so much flak for his celebrations and social media presence and these comments on the official broadcast do nothing but further put his behaviour under the scanner. Whether Parag deserves his place in the side or not is beside the point. A commentator should focus on cricketing merits of a decision instead of commenting on someone’s lifestyle choices,” a cricket fan tweeted.

“I think you missed the point. The social media say to me he is popular and well-liked but that doesn’t count when he is in the middle.. Runs and strike rate is his currency and IMO it’s not good enough. Maybe it’s lost in translation a little sorry.. Enjoy the game,” Doull wrote in his explanatory tweet.

“Sanju (Samson) bhai was thinking that we should hold back a wicket-taking option for the end. But Dinesh bhai and Shahbaz did not take any chances in that over bowled by Chahal. They played him really well. It was a mental game and they were too good,” Parag said in the post-match press conference after RR lost to RCB on Tuesday.

“I think they played really well. DK and Shahbaz took the game away from us. Dinesh bhai was phenomenal. He came in and just took the game away from us. I don’t really think we made a lot of mistakes. I just feel they were better on the given day,” he added.