“He doesn’t”: Riyan Parag drops blunt verdict on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following – Riyan Parag Hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After Heartbreaking IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 Exit
A Night of High Drama in New Chandigarh
The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 reached a boiling point during Match No. 73, the highly anticipated Qualifier 2 clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Held in New Chandigarh, the encounter was marked by intense pressure, bizarre dismissals, and a clinical run chase that ultimately ended the Rajasthan Royals’ campaign in the tournament.
The controversy began even before the first ball was bowled. In a rare officiating hiccup, the match referee failed to hear Riyan Parag’s initial call at the toss, necessitating a redo. Once the coin toss was settled in favor of the Royals, Parag opted to bat first, maintaining the same XI that had secured a victory against SRH in their previous outing. The Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, opted for a strategic change, bringing in R. Sai Kishore for Kulwant Khejroliya.
Rajasthan’s Batting Rollercoaster
The Royals’ innings got off to a disastrous start. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early for a solitary run, followed by Dhruv Jurel, who managed only 7. With the score at 9/2, the Royals were in dire straits. Ravindra Jadeja, who stepped in higher up the order, played a critical role, stitching together a partnership before being forced to retire hurt on 34.
However, the night truly belonged to the young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His sensational knock of 96 runs provided the backbone for the Royals, though he agonizingly missed out on what would have been a well-deserved maiden century. With late-order fireworks from Donovan Ferreira, who smashed 38 off just 11 deliveries, Rajasthan managed to post a formidable total of 214/20.
The Titans’ Masterclass
Chasing a daunting 215, the Gujarat Titans showed intent from the very first over. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan compiled a massive 167-run partnership that essentially broke the back of the chase. The partnership ended in the most peculiar fashion when Sudharsan was dismissed hit-wicket for 58—a bizarre reality for the batter, who had suffered the exact same fate just three days earlier.
Despite the dismissal, the momentum remained firmly with the Titans. GT skipper Shubman Gill played a masterpiece, scoring a brilliant century in just 47 balls before falling on 104. Rahul Tewatia provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 17, ensuring the Titans crossed the finish line with 7 wickets in hand.
Riyan Parag’s Honest Reflections
In the post-match press conference, Riyan Parag was reflective and objective about the result. He admitted that while 214 was a respectable total, the pitch conditions shifted slightly under the lights. “It was a par score; it was defendable. I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the 2nd innings,” Parag noted. “I thought 230 would have been a par score. A score around 240 would have been challenging, but we needed the openers early.”
Looking back at the season as a whole, 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 added.
The Verdict on Sooryavanshi
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the interview came when Parag was asked about the performance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Rejecting the common trope that young power-hitters simply “slog” to success, Parag was effusive in his praise for the teenager’s maturity.
“I can’t put it into words,” Parag said. “There’s 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. I can’t say how, but hopefully, he will go on to do well in his career, do well for the Rajasthan Royals, and win us a second title.”
While the season ends in disappointment for the Rajasthan Royals, the emergence of talents like Sooryavanshi suggests a bright future for the franchise. The team will look to build on these lessons as they prepare for the challenges of the next cycle.
