'Rajasthan Royals let down Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's incredible innings': R Ashwin tears into his former IPL side

Indian cricket legend R Ashwin tore into his former side, the Rajasthan Royals, and their senior players for failing to support the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite the youngster playing a highly mature innings in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans on Friday.

RR lost by seven wickets to GT after scoring 214/6 as Shubman Gill's team progressed to the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

It wasn't the usual flat pitch at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed immense maturity to play a memorable knock of 96 in just 47 balls. He had early troubles against top pacers like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder, and also survived a scare when Sai Sudharsan dropped his catch in the 11th over. Regardless, the 15-year-old showed top-class maturity to emerge as the high-run getter for his team on the night.

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While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waged a lone battle, senior pros like Yashasvi Jasiwal, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag failed to show much resistance, and Rajasthan Royals' punt with Dasun Shanaka backfired massively. Ravindra Jadeja (45) and Donovan Ferreira (38) were the only ones to provide any meaningful support, but it proved to be too little.

Ashwin rips apart Rajasthan Royals batters, management

A frustrated Ashwin blamed the Rajasthan Royals senior batters and the team management for the loss, and accused them of failing to support Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ashwin questioned the decision to bring Dasun Shanaka back into the playing 11 after a month and promote Jofra Archer ahead of Ferreira, as he also criticised the lack of returns from the senior batters.

On his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said he was sad to see RR letting down the Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite him playing his best knock of IPL 2026.

"Main mayoos hoon (I am sad)," Ashwin said. "Because he played so well in IPL 2026, scoring almost 800 runs. But the high point for me was the innings he played today. Of course, he had some luck, but the wicket was helping bowlers. Bowlers who are some of the best in international cricket -- Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder. He got lucky against them, a catch was also dropped, but the way he changed his shots, adapted to the pitch, he deserved better.

"Rajasthan Royals were underwhelming. I know Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan batted well, but the Rajasthan Royals let down that young boy's incredible innings. Incredible innings are not enough words to describe Vaibhav Sooryavanshi."

Highlight RR's biggest mistakes, Ashwin said: "His face went pale after the defeat. A 15-year-old boy is always thinking about winning the match for the team. But honestly, RR were never in the match from the very start after the way Yashasvi Jasiwal got out, Dhruv Jurel got out, Riyan Parag, the way he got out, Ravindra Jadeja gave him some support and Donovan Ferreira ended well.

"Dasun Shanaka made three runs in nine balls, out of which two balls he left. Jofra Archer came out to bat before Ferreira! No one gave him support, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stood between RR losing and winning the game."