“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 2026 TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) reached a boiling point during the Qualifier 2 clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in New Chandigarh. For the Rajasthan Royals, the encounter was one of intense emotional stakes, ultimately ending in a 7-wicket defeat that saw them crash out of the tournament just one step away from the final. The night was marked by early controversy, a resilient batting display, and a post-match interview that shed light on the future of the franchise.

Controversy and the Toss

The evening began with an unusual incident at the toss. Riyan Parag’s initial call went unheard by the match referee, necessitating a repeat of the ceremony. Once the coin finally landed in his favor, Parag elected to bat first. The Royals stuck with the same playing eleven that had secured their victory against SRH, while the Gujarat Titans opted for one tactical change, bringing in R. Sai Kishore to replace Kulwant Khejroliya.

The Royals’ Batting Odyssey

Batting first, the Royals faced immediate pressure. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early for just a single run, and when Dhruv Jurel followed him back to the pavilion with 7 runs to his name, the team found themselves in a precarious position at 9/2. In a strategic shuffle, Ravindra Jadeja stepped up to the crease, steadying the ship before being forced to retire hurt after a vital 34-run contribution.

The highlight of the innings, however, was the display from young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager was nothing short of extraordinary, crafting a magnificent 96-run knock. Though he agonizingly missed out on a century, his efforts, paired with a blistering 38 off 11 balls from Donovan Ferreira and a late surge from the returned Jadeja, pushed the Royals to a competitive total of 214/20.

The Gujarat Titans’ Clinical Response

Chasing 215, the Gujarat Titans showed no signs of hesitation. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan put on a clinical 167-run partnership. The dismissal of Sudharsan, who was out hit-wicket for 58, served as a bizarre moment of deja vu for the batter, marking his second such dismissal in just three days. Despite this, GT captain Shubman Gill powered his way to a brilliant 104 off 47 balls. Rahul Tewatia provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 17, sealing the victory for the Titans.

Riyan Parag’s Blunt and Sincere Verdict

In the aftermath of the defeat, Riyan Parag was reflective. Discussing the total, he admitted, “It was a par score; it was defendable. I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the second 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.”

Perhaps the most significant moment of the post-match interaction came when Parag was asked about the performance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Rejecting the notion that the youngster simply relies on brute power, Parag offered a sharp, analytical perspective: “I can’t put it into words, 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.”

As the Rajasthan Royals head home, the focus shifts to the development of these young stars. With Parag identifying the tactical maturity in Sooryavanshi, the foundation for a future championship run seems to be firmly in place.