Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag has sparked widespread discussion after strongly backing teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a future India call-up following his explosive performance in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, where he narrowly missed a century with a brilliant 96-run knock against Gujarat Titans.

Speaking after Rajasthan Royals were eliminated from the tournament with a seven-wicket defeat, Parag reflected on his team’s campaign and acknowledged that the side was not widely expected to reach the playoffs. Despite the loss, he highlighted the resilience shown by a young and relatively inexperienced squad that managed to compete deep into the tournament.

The spotlight, however, remained firmly on Sooryavanshi, whose aggressive yet composed innings once again stood out on a big occasion. Parag praised the youngster’s ability to go beyond pure hitting, noting his game awareness, ability to assess conditions, and calculated shot selection under pressure against top-quality bowling attacks.

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The RR captain went a step further in his endorsement, urging selectors at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to consider giving the 15-year-old batter a chance at the international level. He expressed hope that Sooryavanshi would go on to represent India and bring further success both to the national side and to Rajasthan Royals in future seasons.

Parag described the innings as more than just aggressive stroke play, emphasizing that Sooryavanshi’s success comes from reading match situations rather than blindly attacking from the outset. He added that the youngster’s maturity in building innings and adapting to match conditions sets him apart from many players of his age group in the tournament.

Despite the loss, Parag remained optimistic about the franchise’s long-term direction, stating that the experience gained by the young squad would serve as a foundation for future campaigns. However, it was his emphatic praise for Sooryavanshi and his call for national recognition that dominated post-match discussions, further intensifying debate over the teenager’s readiness for international cricket.

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