Rajasthan Royals once again got a flying start, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stay at the crease was cut short as Delhi Capitals brought an unexpected edge from their bowling. Sooryavanshi, who had looked set to build on the momentum, was undone by DC’s uncapped all-rounder Madhav Tiwari. The key for Tiwari was the change in tempo—slower deliveries that disrupted the teenage southpaw’s rhythm—leaving Sooryavanshi to depart for 46 off 21 balls. The manner of his dismissal quickly became a talking point online, with fans and cricket observers debating whether taking pace off the ball is truly the best way to trouble batters of Sooryavanshi’s profile.
Rajasthan’s batting coach Vikram Rathour was asked directly about the discussion after the match, and he pushed back firmly. Rathour argued that on the pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, the conditions themselves made the ball difficult to handle, regardless of a batter’s usual strengths. He stressed that even top players have areas they need to manage and suggested that a slower ball can be a legitimate weapon when the surface is offering grip and movement. “See, nobody is perfect in this world. So, everybody will have some weakness here and there. I don’t think slow ball is a weakness with Vaibhav. I will want bowlers to try that. On a wicket like this, where the ball is gripping a bit, change of pace is good against anybody. It’s not only Vaibhav,” Rathour said during the post-match press conference. He added that Sooryavanshi’s overall quality has already been evident and expressed confidence the youngster will convert starts into bigger innings. “I think he’s a special player. I think enough has been said about his ability and how good he is. So, again, he’s provided us a really good start, looking at the surface again. So, I just hope he converts one inning and goes deeper,” the coach said.
Rathour also elaborated on what he expects from Sooryavanshi as the tournament moves along. He pointed to the youngster’s preparation and approach, saying that a breakthrough innings should not be far away. “The way he’s batting, the way he prepares, I’m sure that’s not too far off. We’ll see one of those innings which he’ll really convert and play a big knock. But otherwise, we are pretty happy with the way he’s batting and we want him to bat that way. Thank you,” he said.
When questioned whether Sooryavanshi should take cues from Dhruv Jurel when it comes to managing slower balls and spending more time at the crease, Rathour made it clear that the two players should not be forced into the same mould. In his view, each batter has a distinct method of scoring and that identity is what should be trusted. “Different players will bat differently. Anybody can succeed. You need to identify and know your strengths. If you back your strengths and play to your strengths, you can score runs. Dhruv need not bat like Vaibhav. Vaibhav shouldn’t look to bat like Dhruv. They have their own strengths. They have their own ways of scoring runs. If they keep backing that and keep believing in their ability, they can succeed easily,” Rathour said.
There was also an update on Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from the Royals’ playing XI for the clash against Delhi. Skipper Riyan Parag explained that Jadeja was left out as part of workload management, but Rathour offered a more specific reason from the team’s perspective. The coach said the all-rounder had been dealing with a niggle in his knee and that the franchise opted to give him a brief break. “He just had some niggle in his knee, I think. They are just trying to manage that. They felt that if we give him one more game break, it will be good for him. That was the reason he was rested today. He is just dealing with some niggle,” Rathour said.
With the IPL playoffs race tightening, Rajasthan know the margins are shrinking. To keep their hopes of finishing in the top four alive, the Royals need to win both of their remaining matches.
