Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Rajasthan Royals can be a force to reckon with if Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivers the goods for the franchise. Ashwin wants the youngster to bat aggressively as he did in the previous season, but said the other teams will have plans against him.
The youngser scored 439 runs in seven matches of the Under-19 World Cup at an average of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.50 and thus was awarded Player of the Tournament.
Meanwhile, Suryavanshi scored 252 runs in seven matches of IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 206.55 and thus hogged all the limelight.
“If Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes a huge factor this season, then no one can stop Rajasthan Royals. If he remains a big factor, no one can stop RR, but in cricket you have to remember one thing, it is his second season. He is a kid, he is inexperienced, he should not be put under too much pressure. There will be media narratives, there will be a lot of talk on social media,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“But he is a very exciting talent, I want to see him play the same way like the U-19 World Cup and the last IPL. I just want him to slog from the first ball, hust go for it. But teams will plan against him this time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ashwin said Riyan Parag will have his work cut out as a captain in IPL 2026 and he was expecting RR to name Ravindra Jadeja as their new skipper.
“I think, Riyan Parag – the captain, will have his task cut out. It is not easy to become the captain. Many youngsters that play in the IPL want the captaincy. They try and compete for it, they go hard for it. If Jofra Archer delivers, if Bishnoi delivers, and Jadeja handles him four overs and the finishing, that will make Parag’s job a lot more easier,” R Ashwin said.
“I just hope they put Yashasvi Jaiswal in the same pedigree and trust him to be a leader in the future. Somewhere in my head, I was thinking that Jadeja could be the captain. By making him the captain, maybe Riyan Parag could have been made the vice-captain for a year or two,” he concluded.
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on 30th March at Guwahati.
