"Weren't Supposed To Qualify": Riyan Parag Breaks Silence On Rajasthan Royals IPL Exit

Riyan Parag Breaks Silence On RR Elimination [Source: AFP]

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag struck a proud and optimistic tone after his side's IPL 2026 campaign ended with a defeat to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. He accepted the fate yet praised a few players for stepping up when no one expected them to.

RR qualified for the IPL playoffs at the very last moment and later produced a breathtaking performance in the IPL Eliminator game to knock out Sunrisers Hyderabad.

However, coming into Qualifier 2, RR fell short against GT and lost by 7 wickets to crash out of the tournament.

Riyan Parag praises RR despite missing out on the final

Speaking after the match, captain Riyan Parag admitted that many had not expected Rajasthan Royals to even reach the playoffs this season because of their inexperienced squad and multiple transitions. 

However, he credited the team's character and resilience for exceeding expectations and making a deep run in the tournament.

"A whole lot of positives, actually. But if I had to sum it up in a sentence or a few lines, I feel we were not supposed to qualify. I feel we had a lot of young faces, less experience, less cricket played in the IPL, and a lot of new transitions and combinations we tried and tested. But I feel the character that the boys have shown and where we've reached today, being thrown straight into the IPL, I feel it's a great start for a long journey ahead,” Parag said.

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Riyan Parag in awe of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also concluded a historic season for the Rajasthan Royals. He scored 97 and 96 runs respectively in back-to-back knockout games, which earned him big praise from Riyan Parag.

The RR skipper said Vaibhav is more than just a power hitter. He praised the teenager's ability to assess conditions, calculate risks, and construct an innings with maturity beyond his years. 

"I can't really put it into words. There's one way where you just go and slog, and then you get a lot of runs. But the way he's batted, it's not just slogging. It's not blind slogging. You can't do what he just did today if you were just going from ball one. He calculates; he assesses conditions. He does literally everything well,” he added.

He even expressed hope that Sooryavanshi would soon earn the opportunity to represent India at the international level.

“I still can't figure out how, but hopefully, he keeps doing that. Hopefully, he represents our country and brings more laurels to the nation. And hopefully, he keeps on playing for Rajasthan Royals and gets us to that second championship.”

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finishes with record numbers

Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wrapped up the IPL 2026 season with 776 runs at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237. He hit a century and five fifties, including multiple 90+ run knocks.

Sooryavanshi is currently the leader in the Orange Cap race. However, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are not far behind as they still have a final to play.

Regardless, the season will still be remembered for Sooryavanshi’s heroics. He scored the most runs in a season by an uncapped player in IPL history and also broke the record of most sixes hit in a single IPL edition.

At 15, this is just the start for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. For years to come, he will become the face of the franchise as well as the country, as fans have set high hopes and expectations for him.

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