Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag expressed his happiness after the team’s 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians, securing a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs. However, he acknowledged that there are still areas for improvement. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals scored 205/8 in their 20 overs, with contributions from various players. Their bowlers then restricted Mumbai Indians to 175 runs, clinching an important win in their last league match.
Parag noted that while the team was pleased with the win, they remained focused on enhancing their performance before the playoffs. He explained the decision to move Jofra Archer up the batting order was strategic, aimed at boosting the scoring rate on a pitch requiring an aggressive approach.
“It’s great when everything goes as planned. We’ve won and qualified, but there are many areas for improvement. We needed our set batsmen to last longer. It was a pitch where you can’t have two players batting steadily at the same rate. One needed to take risks while the other played longer. I’ve made many bold decisions this season, which reflects my leadership style,” said Parag after the game.
Parag highlighted that Archer’s dismissal of Hardik Pandya was a key moment in the match. He pointed out that Hardik was building a vital partnership with Suryakumar Yadav as Mumbai Indians were trying to come back during their chase. With this victory, Rajasthan Royals earned 16 points and advanced to the IPL 2026 playoffs. They will now meet Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on May 27 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
“I felt that only Jofra could get Hardik out. It was challenging but credit goes to them. I usually don’t compliment them too much. Mentally, this has been tough for us. Jofra is doing well, and Jaddu has had some minor injuries. We should have qualified sooner. We left it a bit late, but hopefully, we learn from all our games,” Parag added.