Rajasthan Royals Coach Praises Young Talent Sooryavanshi Amid Injury Concerns

In a recent post-match conference, Rajasthan Royals' assistant coach Vikram Rathour praised young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi while addressing concerns over a potential hamstring injury. He emphasized the importance of fielding, noting that dropped catches significantly impacted their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rathour also expressed confidence in Riyan Parag's abilities despite his recent struggles. The match recap highlights RR's strong batting performance, led by Sooryavanshi, but ultimately, SRH's successful chase secured their victory. Read on for more insights from the match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 26, 2026, 10:32 IST

RR Coach Praises Sooryavanshi's Talent

Vikram Rathour, the assistant coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), referred to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a "very special player" while addressing worries about a potential hamstring injury after their recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026.

During the post-match press briefing, Rathour expressed the team's admiration for Sooryavanshi's skills and confirmed that he seems to be in stable condition following treatment. Although there were initial fears regarding a hamstring issue, it currently does not appear to be serious, with a more detailed evaluation expected soon.

"We've said everything we could about Vaibhav. He is indeed a very special player. It seemed like a minor hamstring problem, but he looks fine now. He has received treatment, and we will know in a day or so if it’s serious, but it doesn’t seem to be the case right now," Rathour stated.

Dropped Catches Impacted the Match Outcome

Reflecting on the defeat, Rathour pointed out that missed opportunities in the field were crucial. He acknowledged that dropped catches were detrimental against a formidable opponent, stressing that such mistakes cannot happen against high-quality teams.

"You are correct about the dropped catches. That was a pivotal moment. When facing strong teams, you cannot afford to give them chances. We missed a couple, and that ultimately cost us the match," he remarked.

Support for Riyan Parag's Performance

Regarding Riyan Parag's recent batting difficulties in IPL 2026, Rathour expressed his confidence in the young all-rounder, asserting that there are no technical flaws in his game. He praised Parag's dedication during training and described the current slump as a normal part of a cricketer's journey.

"Nothing is amiss with him. He is performing well in practice and putting in the effort. Sometimes players go through phases where runs are hard to come by. That’s just part of the sport. I believe he will bounce back strongly," Rathour added.

Match Summary: SRH vs RR

In the match, RR set a formidable target of 228/6, highlighted by an impressive 103 runs off just 37 balls from Sooryavanshi and a quickfire 51 runs from Jurel off 35 balls. Donovan Ferreira also contributed with a rapid 33 runs from 16 balls towards the end of the innings.

In response, SRH faced an early setback with the loss of Travis Head but made a strong recovery as Ishan Kishan scored 74 runs off 31 balls and Abhishek Sharma added 57 runs off 29 balls, forming a 132-run partnership. Despite losing a few wickets towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) ensured that SRH successfully chased down the target in 18.3 overs.