Ravichandran Ashwin, former Indian cricketer, has come to the defense of Riyan Parag, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals cricket team, amid rising criticism regarding his conduct on and off the field. Parag has been at the center of controversy following an incident where he was allegedly seen vaping in the dressing room during a live match, leading to a 25% fine imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for bringing the game into disrepute. Despite this, Parag silenced critics with a remarkable 90 runs against the Delhi Capitals, although the Royals ultimately lost the match. Ashwin praised Parag's performance, calling him a 'special player' and a 'sweet, misunderstood kid.' Parag himself stated he does not feel the need to respond to critics, emphasizing his primary goal is to win matches for his team.