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Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has strongly criticized a mainstream media outlet for publishing a misleading headline, alleging that Riyan Parag paid a fan INR 10,000 to touch his feet during an IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.
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The Incident: A Fan’s Admiration Blown Out of Proportion
During the game, a passionate fan ran onto the field and fell at Riyan Parag’s feet while he was bowling. Security quickly intervened and escorted the fan out. The moment was a testament to Parag’s growing popularity in Assam, as he led RR in the absence of Sanju Samson.
However, a sensational headline soon surfaced online, falsely claiming that Parag bribed the fan to touch his feet.
Aakash Chopra Calls Out Media’s “Clickbait Journalism”
Aakash Chopra took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration with the lack of journalistic integrity behind the report.
“Stumbled upon this article. Headline is explosive, obviously. But there’s nothing mentioned in the article about how they figured out that Riyan paid a fan to touch his feet. NOTHING at all. In the world of clickbait journalism, this is a new low. And this is mainstream media, btw,” Chopra wrote.
Parag’s IPL 2025 Struggles
Riyan Parag, leading RR in Samson’s absence, has had a tough start to the season. In two matches, he has managed only 29 runs at an average of 14.50. RR, too, is struggling, sitting at the bottom of the IPL points table after heavy defeats against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and KKR, with a net run rate of -1.882.
The Growing Concern Over Sensationalist Reporting
Chopra’s criticism highlights the rising issue of sensational journalism in sports media, where clickbait headlines overshadow factual reporting. With cricketers often under intense scrutiny, such misleading reports only add to the unnecessary pressure on players.
