Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Vikram Rathour struck a confident tone after RR’s Indian Premier League 2026 defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday night, playing down fears of a hamstring concern for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and pointing to fielding errors as the key difference in the match.
Sooryavanshi’s fitness update after the loss
- Rathour, speaking at the post-match press conference, described Sooryavanshi as “a very special player,” reiterating that the franchise has already shown clear admiration for his talent.
- He acknowledged that there had been early worries about a hamstring issue, but said the situation now appears reassuring following treatment.
- Rathour stated that the youngster is currently in stable condition and that a more definitive assessment is expected over the next couple of days.
- He added that the coaching staff and medical team will know whether the concern is serious after further observation, but said it is not looking that way at present.
“Whatever we could say about Vaibhav, we have said. He’s a very special player,” Rathour said. “It was looking like a bit of a hamstring issue, but right now, he is looking fine. They’ve treated him, so we’ll know in a day or so if it’s anything serious, but it’s not looking like that for now.”
Why RR fell short: missed chances in the field
- Turning to the defeat itself, Rathour highlighted that missed opportunities while fielding swung the momentum.
- He said dropped catches were especially damaging against a strong side, stressing that such errors cannot be afforded when playing against high-quality batters.
- Rathour described those moments as the “turning point,” arguing that the opposition was handed chances RR could not keep giving.
“Catches dropped, you’re right. That was the turning point. When you’re playing against good teams, you can’t afford to give them opportunities. We missed a couple, and that cost us the game,” he added.
Riyan Parag backed despite batting dip
Rathour also addressed Riyan Parag’s recent lean returns with the bat in IPL 2026. The assistant coach insisted there is no technical problem in Parag’s game, pointing instead to the natural rhythm of cricket where scoring can fluctuate. Rathour noted that Parag is batting well in practice and putting in hard work in training, and he expects the all-rounder to bounce back strongly.
“Nothing is going wrong with him. He’s batting well in the nets and working hard. Sometimes you go through a phase where you’re not scoring as many runs. That’s part of the game. He’ll come back strong, I’m sure,” Rathour said.
Match recap: RR’s big total and SRH’s successful chase
- RR posted 228/6, anchored by a stunning 103 off 37 balls from Sooryavanshi.
- Josh Jurel contributed 51 runs from 35 deliveries, helping keep the scoreboard moving.
- Donovan Ferreira struck late, adding a quick 33 off 16 balls to accelerate the innings finish.
- In response, SRH lost Travis Head early, but the chase took shape through a 132-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma.
- Kishan made 74 off 31, while Sharma struck 57 off 29, giving SRH a platform to press home the target.
- Even with some wickets falling late, Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) kept the required run-rate under control.
- SRH completed the chase comfortably in 18.3 overs.
