Rajasthan Royals will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, with the match scheduled for Mullanpur. RR ended the league phase in emphatic fashion, punching their ticket to the knockout stage after a 30-run triumph over Mumbai Indians in their last outing.
Key takeaways
- Rajasthan Royals earned qualification for the IPL 2026 Playoffs after beating Mumbai Indians in their final league match.
- RR set a target of 205/8, then restricted MI to 175/9 to secure a 30-run win.
- The result ended the Playoffs hopes of Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
- Ahead of the Eliminator, the Rajasthan squad travelled from Mumbai and arrived in Mullanpur.
- At the airport, skipper Riyan Parag refused to pose with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after photographers asked for a picture.
- Parag praised Jadeja’s finishing impact and explained his thinking around batting role assignments.
RR book their Eliminator spot with a statement win
In the must-win league-stage clash, Rajasthan Royals batted first and compiled 205/8 across 20 overs. Mumbai Indians were then limited to 175/9, leaving them short by 30 runs. With that outcome, the league table shifted sharply—Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders were both eliminated from contention for the Playoffs.
Buoyed by the win, RR moved into the next phase of their campaign. Before the Eliminator, the franchise squad departed from Mumbai and reached Mullanpur, where the focus now turns to their meeting with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Airport moment sparks viral reaction
During the team’s arrival, a light-hearted exchange involving Rajasthan’s young batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and captain Riyan Parag quickly became a talking point. At just 15 years old, Sooryavanshi has drawn widespread attention for his big-match power, and photographers at the airport were eager to capture him on camera.
A viral clip circulating on social media showed photographers asking Parag to pose alongside Sooryavanshi. The skipper, however, declined the request, responding with the line, “We aren’t film stars,” before walking away. Sooryavanshi reacted with a puzzled expression, yet he continued to cooperate for photographs.
The moment was captured again in a separate segment of the same viral wave—when the paparazzi addressed Parag in Hindi, asking for “one photo with Vaibhav,” Parag replied, “We aren’t film stars.” After hearing that, Sooryavanshi’s smile reportedly faded, underscoring how quickly the exchange unfolded.
Despite the refusal, the episode also highlighted how closely Sooryavanshi has been backed within the RR environment. With the departure of former head coach Rahul Dravid, Parag has continued to stand firmly behind the teenager, reinforcing the trust placed in the youngster.
Parag’s post-match comments after the win over MI
The league victory over Mumbai Indians not only confirmed RR’s place as the fourth and final side to reach the IPL 2026 Playoffs, but also came with plenty of reflection from their captain. Parag said it was satisfying when the plan works, while also noting that there were still areas the team could improve.
He pointed out that they wanted the set batter to stay at the crease for longer, and referenced the team’s batting adjustments—mentioning the choice to have Jofra at number 7 and Jadeja at number 9. According to Parag, the side needed runs, and the strategy was to ensure one batter took the initiative and the risk, while the other could remain longer to build the innings.
Parag also singled out Jadeja’s reliability at the back end, stating that he expected the all-rounder to provide at least 20 runs from the final 10 balls—and that’s exactly what happened. He wrapped up by emphasising the balance between aggression and stability that RR were aiming for as they head into the Eliminator phase.
