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

A Night of High Drama in New Chandigarh

The IPL 2026 season reached a fever pitch during Match No. 73, the all-important Qualifier 2 between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Held in New Chandigarh, the encounter was billed as a marquee clash, but it ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Rajasthan Royals, who were eliminated from the tournament following a clinical 7-wicket victory by the Gujarat Titans.

The tension was palpable from the very first minute. In a rare instance of confusion, the match referee had to ask for a re-toss after Riyan Parag’s initial call went unheard. Once the formalities were settled, Parag won the toss and elected to set a target, opting to stick with the same playing XI that secured a win against SRH. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans made a strategic adjustment, bringing in R. Sai Kishore to replace Kulwant Khejroliya.

A Rollercoaster First Innings

Rajasthan’s start was far from ideal. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, managing only one run, followed shortly by Dhruv Jurel, who departed for seven. With the score at 9/2, the Royals were in dire need of stability. Ravindra Jadeja stepped up to the plate, forming a vital partnership before being forced to retire hurt after contributing 34 runs to the cause.

The spotlight, however, belonged to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The youngster played an absolute gem of an innings, scoring a breathtaking 96 runs. Though he narrowly missed out on a maiden century, his contribution was instrumental in steering the Royals toward a competitive total. With late-innings fireworks from Donovan Ferreira, who smashed 38 off just 11 balls, and a resilient return from Jadeja, who finished unbeaten on 45, the Royals posted a formidable 214/20.

The Gujarat Titans’ Dominant Chase

In response, the Gujarat Titans made their intentions clear from the outset. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan dismantled the Rajasthan bowling attack, putting together a massive 167-run opening partnership. The partnership ended in a bizarre fashion when Sudharsan was dismissed hit-wicket for 58, marking his second such dismissal in just three days, leaving the batter in visible disbelief.

GT skipper Shubman Gill continued his masterclass, racing to a brilliant century in just 47 balls before eventually falling for 104. The finishing touches were applied by Rahul Tewatia, who remained unbeaten on 17, and Washington Sundar, who chipped in with a quick-fire 16 off 9 balls to seal the victory for Gujarat.

Riyan Parag’s Reflections

Speaking after the match, Riyan Parag remained pragmatic about the result. “It was a par score; it was defendable,” Parag stated. “I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the second innings. In the first, 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, the captain focused on the growth of his squad. “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.”

High Praise for Sooryavanshi

The most intriguing part of the post-match discussion was Parag’s take on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Addressing the youngster’s technical approach, Parag offered a glowing assessment that distinguished the teen from typical power hitters.

“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 elimination marks the end of the road for the Royals this season, the performance of young talents like Sooryavanshi suggests a bright future for the franchise. The focus now shifts to the final, but the Rajasthan camp will likely look back at this season as a critical stepping stone for their emerging stars.