“He doesn’t”: Riyan Parag drops blunt verdict on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following – IPL 2026: Riyan Parag Praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After Heartbreak

A Bitter End to a Promising Campaign

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 concluded in heartbreak for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they faced a resounding 7-wicket defeat against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2. The match, held in New Chandigarh, saw the Titans dismantle the Royals’ aspirations of reaching the final, bringing a premature end to a season defined by youthful energy and bold strategic risks.

The tension was palpable from the very first moment of the match. In a rare sequence of events, captain Riyan Parag’s call during the toss was not heard by the match referee, necessitating a repeat of the process. Parag, having finally won the toss, opted to bat first, sticking with the same eleven that had secured their previous victory against SRH. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans made a solitary tactical adjustment, bringing in R. Sai Kishore for Kulwant Khejroliya.

The Royals’ Batting Rollercoaster

Rajasthan’s start was anything but ideal. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early for just a single run, and Dhruv Jurel soon followed for 7, leaving the side reeling at 9/2. In a strategic shift, Ravindra Jadeja moved up the order, stitching together a crucial partnership before eventually retiring hurt on 34. While the team managed to reach a formidable total of 214/5, the middle-order pressure was immense.

The highlight of the innings was undoubtedly the performance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The youngster played a spectacular knock, scoring 96 runs and narrowly missing out on a maiden IPL hundred. His efforts, combined with a blistering 38 off 11 balls from Donovan Ferreira and an unbeaten 45 from Jadeja, set a target that seemed competitive, though Parag later admitted he felt they fell roughly 20-30 runs short of a truly challenging score.

Gujarat’s Clinical Chase

The Gujarat Titans responded with clinical precision. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan put on an aggressive 167-run partnership that effectively took the game away from the Royals. Sudharsan’s dismissal—a bizarre hit-wicket for the second time in three days—was a moment of disbelief for the batter. However, Gill held firm, smashing a brilliant 104 off 47 deliveries, while Rahul Tewatia provided the finishing touches to cruise to victory.

Riyan Parag’s Candid Verdict

Speaking after the match, Riyan Parag remained introspective about the team’s performance. He noted that while the pitch had eased up for the second innings, the lack of early wickets proved fatal. Reflecting on the broader season, Parag highlighted the resilience of his squad. ‘To sum it up in one sentence, there were many positives. We weren’t supposed to qualify, given that many players were young and inexperienced, but many youngsters performed well and can only improve from here,’ he stated.

The most intriguing part of his post-match discussion was his assessment of the young sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. When asked to characterize the youngster’s meteoric rise, Parag was quick to distinguish Sooryavanshi from players who rely solely on brute force. ‘I can’t put it into words,’ Parag admitted. ‘There is one way where you slog and score many runs, but he doesn’t slog. You could see his innings today—he calculates and plays his shots.’

Parag expressed immense confidence in the young talent’s future. By highlighting that Sooryavanshi’s success is rooted in calculation and technical awareness rather than blind slogging, Parag signaled that the youngster is already playing with the maturity of a veteran. The captain concluded by emphasizing his hope that Sooryavanshi would continue to evolve, eventually becoming the cornerstone of the Rajasthan Royals’ quest for their second IPL title.

Despite the bitter exit, the campaign leaves Rajasthan fans with plenty to look forward to, particularly with talent like Sooryavanshi emerging under the leadership of a reflective and growth-oriented captain like Riyan Parag.