Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag expressed astonishment at the explosive 15-ball half-century by the young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, propelling RR to an eight-wicket victory against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 inaugural match in Guwahati. Parag, leading the team for the entire season, revealed that both he and Dhruv Jurel were mesmerized as the 15-year-old sensation dismantled the CSK bowling attack during the powerplay.
Parag mentioned at the post-match ceremony that he had encouraged Sooryavanshi to focus solely on his game without being affected by external factors, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the game. Rajasthan Royals capitalized on the favorable overhead conditions to dismiss CSK for 127 after choosing to bowl first on a pitch that had been sheltered due to rain, setting up a challenging target.
Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach turned the chase into a one-sided contest, with the young left-hander dominating the CSK bowlers right from the beginning. His swift fifty, achieved with a couple of sixes off Noor Ahmad, made him the third-fastest half-centurion in IPL history. Despite being dropped once, the teenager’s onslaught proved detrimental to CSK’s chances as the game swiftly slipped away from their grasp.
With Sooryavanshi leading the charge, his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal played a vital supporting role, ensuring the young talent retained strike during the powerplay. Rajasthan Royals efficiently chased down the target in just 12.1 overs, with Jaiswal contributing an unbeaten 38 runs, while Parag sealed the victory.
Sooryavanshi commended the team management, particularly head coach Kumar Sangakkara, for supporting his natural game, focusing on controlling the game during the crucial powerplay phase. He emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with Jaiswal, who constantly motivated him to continue playing his shots.
While Rajasthan Royals excelled in all aspects during their opening fixture, Chennai Super Kings faced shortcomings in both batting and fielding, highlighting areas for improvement.