Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) unbeaten run in ipl 2026 stopped as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Achieved a resounding 57-run win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. While the result itself was a major talking point, one particular decision by RR skipper Riyan Parag left fans and experts wondering – why was it so Ravindra Jadeja Not a single over was given with the ball?
Ryan Parag cites Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling failure as RR face first defeat in IPL 2026
With SRH putting up a mammoth score of 216 runs on the board, many expected Jadeja to play a role, especially in the middle overs, where the pitch was beginning to provide some grip for the slower bowlers. However, the experienced left-arm spinner was not utilized throughout the innings, raising questions over the team’s bowling strategy.
Addressing the decision after the match, Parag admitted that it was not part of a well-thought-out plan but a quick decision taken in the heat of the moment. Parag explained, “Jaddu Bhai, I don’t know, it was just a split second decision.” “Ishan (Kishan) was batting really well, so I didn’t want to take that chance.”
The young captain said that the fast bowlers were getting initial help with the new ball from the pitch, which influenced his decision making. As SRH captain Ishan Kishan dominated the innings with a blistering 91 off 44 balls, supported by Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive 40, RR struggled to control the scoring rate.
Parag decided to rely too much on his pace attack and even bowled an over himself giving 10 runs. However, Jadeja’s control and absence of experience in the middle overs allowed SRH to maintain their pace and post a tough total.
Also see: Prafulla Hinge dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Luan-Dre Pretorius for a duck in his first over
Despite Jadeja’s return with the bat, criticism is increasing
The decision to keep Jadeja out of the bowling attack was not liked by many people in the cricket world. Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth was particularly critical, questioning the logic behind the move.
“He is only there for style. As usual, he did nothing with the bat and spoke in the post-match presentation. He does not bowl a single over to Jadeja and then gives the explanation that a left-handed batsman was playing. Is there a rule that a left-arm spinner cannot bowl to a left-handed batsman? This is absurd,” Srikanth said on his YouTube channel.
Parag himself had a disappointing performance with the bat and could only score 4 runs off 6 balls as RR’s target was quickly reduced to a low. After being reduced to 9 for 5 in the first three overs, the Royals were effectively out of the competition before they could even settle.
Amidst the chaos, Jadeja showed his importance to the team by leading with the bat. Walking in at a crucial moment, he played a composed 45 off 32 balls and shared a remarkable 118-run partnership with Donovan Ferreira, who made 69 off 44 balls.
His effort helped RR regain some respectability, but the damage caused by SRH’s bowlers – particularly debutants Prafulla Hinz (4/34) and Saqib Hussain (4/24) – proved too difficult to overcome. Rajasthan eventually fell behind and suffered their first defeat of the season.
Despite the loss, RR remains on top of the points table with 8 points from five matches. Meanwhile, SRH moved up to fourth after registering their second win of the campaign.
Also Read: Prafulla Hinge reveals strategy to dismiss Vaibhav Suryavanshi for duck in SRH vs RR IPL 2026 showdown
