A light-hearted exchange involving Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag and teenage teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has captured attention online. The clip, filmed at an airport, shows paparazzi requesting a joint picture from the duo. Parag replied in a casual, tongue-in-cheek way that, “we’re not flim stars,” prompting an awkward pause and a deadpan stare from Vaibhav that quickly turned into a meme-worthy moment for social media users.
Key takeaways
- The viral airport clip features Riyan Parag and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reacting to a request for a photo together.
- Parag’s offbeat remark about not being “flim stars” was followed by Vaibhav’s standout, awkward stare.
- Rajasthan Royals’ momentum came as they earned a playoff berth in IPL 2026 after beating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs.
- Rivals questioned Parag’s captaincy earlier in the season during a difficult mid-phase stretch.
- Head coach Kumar Sangakkara publicly backed Parag’s leadership and character, addressing years of trolling.
- Vaibhav, at 15, has posted a record-breaking campaign and set ambitious targets on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show.
From viral banter to playoff pressure
The funny moment resurfaced at a time when Rajasthan Royals were riding a sharp upturn in fortunes. Their qualification for the playoffs in IPL 2026 was confirmed after a win over Mumbai Indians by 30 runs—an outcome that underscored the team’s growing strength and consistency.
Earlier, though, the season had not started smoothly for the Royals. They suffered a run of defeats during the middle portion of the tournament, and the results triggered increased scrutiny from fans. A significant part of that debate centered on Riyan Parag, with many questioning his captaincy and the decisions he made while the team struggled.
Sangakkara defends Parag as Vaibhav sets huge goals
Despite the criticism, head coach Kumar Sangakkara offered an emphatic defence of Parag’s leadership. In his remarks, he stated that once the franchise decided to hand Riyan the captaincy, Parag was the right choice to lead the side. Sangakkara added that the confidence, maturity, and dressing-room respect Parag commands are traits the team values.
Sangakkara also addressed the trolling Parag has faced over the years. He suggested that very few players have endured that level of criticism for such a long stretch, noting it has been going on for around seven years. He further described Parag as someone who is frequently misunderstood by the public—calling him “a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man.”
While Parag’s leadership drew both questions and praise, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has continued to be one of the standout stories of IPL 2026. Appearing on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show, the 15-year-old outlined major ambitions for T20 cricket. He said he wants to score 200 runs in T20s and also intends to surpass Chris Gayle’s benchmark, referencing Gayle’s famous unbeaten 175 in IPL history.
Sooryavanshi’s impact so far has matched the confidence. He has already crossed the 580-run mark this season and done so with an explosive strike rate, establishing himself as one of the breakout performers of IPL 2026.
