Ashwin condemns Rajasthan Royals’ batting collapse as Gujarat Titans reach IPL final
Ravichandran Ashwin argues the Rajasthan Royals batting unit failed to back 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 96-run innings, as Gujarat Titans chased down 214/6 to advance to the IPL 2026 final.
Former India spinner and Rajasthan Royals alumnus Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly criticised the team’s batting structure following their elimination from the IPL 2026 playoffs. Appearing on his YouTube program, Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin argued that the Royals’ batting unit failed to adequately support 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 96 runs off 47 balls in the Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans.
The match ended in a seven-wicket defeat for Rajasthan, allowing Gujarat Titans to chase down the target of 214/6 and secure their place in the tournament final. While acknowledging the brilliance of Gujarat’s Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, Ashwin maintained that the overall team effort was underwhelming given the context of Sooryavanshi’s performance.
Sooryavanshi’s innings was characterised by resilience against a potent Gujarat attack featuring international bowlers Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Jason Holder. Ashwin noted that the pitch offered assistance to bowlers, yet the teenager adapted his shot selection effectively. He conceded that Sooryavanshi benefited from some luck, including a dropped catch, but emphasised that his technical adjustments were exceptional.
Rajasthan’s innings began poorly, collapsing to 9/2 in the powerplay after early dismissals for Yashasvi Jaiswal for one and Dhruv Jurel for seven. Sooryavanshi then rebuilt the innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 45 off 35 balls before retiring hurt due to an elbow injury. The middle-order subsequently fractured, with Riyan Parag contributing just 11 runs before the wickets fell in quick succession.
Despite the collapse, Sooryavanshi remained at the crease to finish with 96 runs, including eight fours and seven sixes at a strike rate exceeding 204. Donovan Ferreira provided late acceleration with an unbeaten 38 off 11 balls, helping the team post a competitive total. However, Gujarat Titans chased the target comfortably, ending Rajasthan’s campaign.
Ashwin highlighted that Sooryavanshi had accumulated nearly 800 runs throughout the IPL 2026 tournament prior to this match. He expressed sadness that such a significant individual achievement did not result in a victory, stating that the young player deserved better support from his teammates.
The defeat marks the end of the Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 campaign. Following the match, Rajasthan Royals director Sanjay Sangakkara also voiced disappointment regarding the elimination, questioning the absence of player Sam Curran, who had featured for Surrey but did not bowl in the tournament.
