RiyanParag feels proud of RR after getting defeated by GT in Qualifier 2

Parag even praised VaibhavSooryavanshi, and the 15-year-old continues to top the Orange Cap list in IPL 2026.

On Friday night, Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans (GT) at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Qualifier 2, allowing GT to reach the finals and face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026 finale. RR captain RiyanParag, however, even after the defeat and not reaching the finals, didn’t feel disheartened and was rather happy with the team’s overall performance this season.

RR were defeated by GT in Qualifier 2, but RiyanParag feels proud of the team.

RR captain RiyanParag chose to focus on the bigger picture, a season that exceeded expectations and introduced a new generation of exciting talent. Speaking after the match, Parag admitted the pitch became easier to bat on in the second innings after the heavy roller was used. He believed that his team’s score was competitive, but perhaps a little lower than what was needed in a high-pressure knockout game. “It was a defendable score, but maybe we were 15-20 runs short,” Parag said. “The wicket got better later on, and we needed early breakthroughs which didn’t happen.” Even in defeat, Parag sounded proud of the team’s overall campaign. Rajasthan Royals were not among the favourites at the start of the season, especially with a relatively young and inexperienced squad. Yet, they managed to reach the final stages of the tournament and consistently challenged stronger teams. “Not many people expected us to get this far,” Parag admitted. “A lot of our players are young, and honestly, many felt we weren’t meant to qualify. But the youngsters stepped up and showed incredible character throughout the season.” The RR skipper also highlighted how the team’s younger players gained valuable experience that could benefit the franchise in the coming years.

RiyanParag had special praise for VaibhavSooryavanshi.

While Rajasthan’s campaign has ended, one name that continues to dominate conversations is VaibhavSooryavanshi. The 15-year-old batting prodigy has been nothing short of sensational this season. With 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30, Sooryavanshi currently leads the Orange Cap race and has emerged as one of the biggest breakout stars of IPL 2026. Parag had special praise for the youngster, saying his batting is far more mature than people realise. “There’s a difference between slogging and calculated hitting,” Parag said. “Vaibhav reads the game, picks his moments, and plays smart cricket. That’s what makes him special.” He also expressed hope that the teenager would continue growing with the Rajasthan Royals and eventually help the franchise win another IPL title.

With the win, the Gujarat Titans have now advanced to the IPL 2026 final, where they will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the NarendraModi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.