“He doesn’t”: Riyan Parag drops blunt verdict on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following – Riyan Parag Praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After IPL 2026 Qualifier Exit
A Hard Exit in New Chandigarh
The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 reached a boiling point during Match No. 73, the high-stakes Qualifier 2 held in New Chandigarh. In a battle that saw momentum swing wildly, the Gujarat Titans (GT) emerged triumphant against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), securing a dominant 7-wicket victory that brought the Royals’ title ambitions to a sudden halt.
The encounter began with a peculiar touch of drama. During the toss, Riyan Parag’s initial call was deemed inaudible by the match referee, necessitating a re-toss. Upon finally winning the toss, Parag elected to bat first, sticking with the same lineup that had seen them through a successful outing against SRH. The Titans made a tactical adjustment, bringing R Sai Kishore into the side to replace Kulwant Khejroliya.
The Royals’ Innings: A Mix of Grit and Brilliance
Rajasthan’s start was far from ideal. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early for a solitary run, followed quickly by Dhruv Jurel, who managed only 7. With the score at 9/2, the pressure was immense. In a tactical shift, Ravindra Jadeja moved up the order, building a steady foundation before being forced to retire hurt on 34. While Riyan Parag himself struggled to convert his start into a match-defining total, the spotlight shifted to the teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sooryavanshi put on a masterclass, displaying maturity beyond his years as he notched up a blistering 96. Though he narrowly missed out on a century, his efforts, paired with a late-order cameo from Donovan Ferreira—who smashed 38 off just 11 balls—and Jadeja’s unbeaten 45, pushed the Royals to a formidable 214/X total.
The Titans’ Chase and Tactical Brilliance
Chasing a mammoth total, the Gujarat Titans responded with clinical aggression. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan dismantled the bowling attack, putting together a 167-run opening stand. In a bizarre turn of events, Sudharsan was dismissed hit-wicket for the second time in three days, leaving the young batter in visible disbelief. However, the Gujarat captain, Shubman Gill, remained unfazed. He hammered a brilliant 104 off just 47 balls, effectively steering the Titans toward victory. Rahul Tewatia provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 17, ensuring the Titans crossed the finish line in style.
Riyan Parag’s Assessment: Beyond the Slog
Speaking after the match, Riyan Parag reflected on the strategic nuances of the game. ‘It was a par score; it was defendable,’ Parag noted. ‘I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the 2nd innings. In the first innings, the bowlers got some grip, and the slower ones did well. I thought 230 would have been a par score. A score around 240 would have been challenging, but we needed the openers early.’
When asked to summarize the season, Parag remained optimistic despite the exit. ‘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.’
The conversation inevitably turned to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose performance was arguably the biggest takeaway for the Royals. Parag was quick to dispel the notion that the youngster is merely a ‘slogger.’ Instead, he emphasized the calculated nature of the teenager’s play.
‘I can’t put it into words,’ Parag said regarding Sooryavanshi’s ability. ‘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 he does it, but hopefully, he will go on to do well in his career, contribute to the Rajasthan Royals, and eventually lead us to a second title.’
As the Rajasthan Royals head back to the drawing board, the emergence of talents like Sooryavanshi provides a silver lining to an otherwise bitter end to their 2026 campaign. With Parag’s leadership and the clear potential of their youth core, the future for the franchise remains bright.
