Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara lauded his batting group after the franchise pulled off a stunning 223-run chase against Punjab Kings. With the pressure of bouncing back after a loss and taking on an unbeaten Punjab side, the task looked daunting, yet Rajasthan showed discipline, clarity, and composure. The batters stuck to their plans, kept the scoreboard moving through momentum swings, and handled crucial phases calmly. In the end, the Royals completed the chase with four balls remaining, a finish that reflected both confidence and depth in their batting order.
Chase under pressure: Sangakkara’s view
Speaking after the match, Sangakkara shifted attention away from any single standout and emphasised the collective strength that carried Rajasthan through. He acknowledged that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has naturally drawn a lot of attention for his performances, but argued that the wider batting unit has been just as important to their success.
- Sangakkara said the spotlight often falls heavily on Vaibhav because of the quality of his cricket.
- He stressed that Rajasthan’s batting depth is powered by multiple top players across the group.
- He listed the core contributors as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv, Yash, Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Dubey, Jadeja, and Shanaka.
- He added that when anyone in the side produces something extraordinary, it lifts the entire team.
Riyan Parag’s cameo and the momentum shift
Sangakkara also singled out Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag, highlighting the importance of his cameo in the middle phase. He noted that despite Riyan not having an ideal run of form with the bat in the season, the innings arrived at the right time to swing momentum back toward the Royals.
- Riyan Parag made 29 runs off 16 balls against Punjab Kings.
- Sangakkara described the cameo as the exact kind of contribution needed to restore momentum during a key stretch.
- He referred to the victory as a “collective effort,” pointing to multiple players doing their jobs at crucial moments.
Bowling adjustments and Dubey’s impact role
While praising the turnaround in batting, Sangakkara admitted that Rajasthan’s bowling planning was not perfect at the start. He credited the unit for regrouping and fighting back, with spin bowling and support from other options playing a decisive part in the match.
- Sangakkara said Rajasthan were slightly off early with their bowling plans.
- He praised the team’s response as they fought back into the game.
- He specifically highlighted the contribution of the two spinners.
- He added that Jofra again played a role, supported by Nandre and Brijesh.
He then reserved special praise for impact substitute Dubey, stressing how demanding it is to make an impact when match conditions and roles are uncertain until the moment arrives.
- Sangakkara described coming in as an impact substitute as one of the hardest things to do.
- He noted that a player doesn’t know in advance whether they will be required to bat.
- He said Dubey stayed exceptionally focused mentally and delivered in a tough situation.
