Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag admitted he was left surprised by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 15-ball half-century that powered RR to an eight-wicket win over Chennai Tremendous Kings of their IPL 2026 opener in Guwahati on Monday. Parag, main the facet full-time this season, mentioned he and Dhruv Jurel may solely watch in disbelief because the 15-year-old dismantled the CSK assault contained in the powerplay.
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“What I inform him is that you’ll play 14 video games and no matter what goes on within the sport, it should not hassle you. What goes round within the media should not hassle you. You simply go on the market. He likes to bat. I’ve made certain I’ve instructed the coaches that he will get as a lot batting as he needs. And he goes and does some issues like that. So I believe me and Dhruv, once we have been sitting there until the fourth over, we have been simply in awe? Like, how is he doing this? However then I am actually comfortable to have him in my crew.
Rajasthan Royals had earlier made full use of the overhead circumstances to bowl out CSK for 127 after opting to discipline on a pitch that had been below cowl as a consequence of rain. The floor supplied early help, and CSK struggled to get well from a poor begin.
Sooryavanshi then turned the chase right into a one-sided affair. The left-hander went on the offensive from the outset, taking aside each tempo and spin. He struck a exceptional six over level off a slower ball from New Zealand pacer Matt Henry and reached his fifty with a few sixes off Noor Ahmad, registering the third-fastest half-century in IPL historical past.
He was additionally handed a lifeline when dropped by Kartik Sharma throughout an 18-run over, a mistake CSK paid closely for as the sport slipped away rapidly.
With Sooryavanshi dominating, opening associate Yashasvi Jaiswal performed a supporting function, guaranteeing the teenager retained strike throughout the powerplay. RR chased down the goal in simply 12.1 overswith Jaiswal unbeaten on 38 and Parag ending the chase.
Talking after the match, Sooryavanshi credited the crew administration, together with head coach Kumar Sangakkara, for backing his pure method.
“I do take into consideration defence, however at this time our plan was to regulate the sport within the powerplay as a result of in a small chase, that part is essential. If the bowling crew does effectively there, the sport can tilt their manner, however our powerplay went rather well,” he mentioned.
“The coaches simply instructed me that they again me and that I ought to persist with my pure sport and play in accordance with the scenario,” he added.
The 15-year-old additionally highlighted the function of Jaiswal, saying his opening associate saved speaking and inspired him to maintain enjoying his photographs.
Whereas RR ticked all packing containers of their opening match, CSK have been left with loads to deal with after a below-par batting effort and lapses within the discipline.
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