Guwahati, April 11 (NationPress) Riyan Parag acknowledged that the Rajasthan Royals had underperformed at this venue in the past, but he lauded his team's impressive all-round performance following their victory against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He noted that they believed they had surrendered around 20 runs more than they should have.

"Reflecting on previous seasons, we haven't lived up to expectations at this venue, but today we were exceptionally efficient. Our bowling and our start were commendable; we aspired for 200 runs but still felt we conceded 20 runs too many due to the wickets we claimed in the middle overs. We should have limited them to around 170. This pitch doesn't generally allow many sixes off spinners. We gave room for the batters and fell into their rhythm. Our preparation in Guwahati and Jaipur was thorough. We understood the nature of the black soil here and were ready for any home game. Although it didn't feel like a typical home game, we were well-equipped. At the beginning of the season, we aimed to be a team that can assess and adapt effectively. After playing on some challenging pitches, we'll perform even better once we get a favorable one," stated RR captain Parag post-match.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi spearheaded a formidable assault as Rajasthan Royals pursued their target, swiftly dismantling the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowling attack with audacious strokes, leading to a dominating six-wicket victory.

The young talent played with remarkable confidence, his powerful swings sending the ball to the boundary frequently, with 15 out of his 26 balls resulting in boundaries.

By the time he miscued a shot off Krunal Pandya, the damage was already substantial, putting Rajasthan Royals in a commanding position. Although they faced a minor setback, sliding from 129/1 to 134/4, the groundwork laid by Sooryavanshi kept the chase well within reach.

"Everyone adores him; having him around is a joy. He enjoys trying new foods and going out. We strive to cater to his preferences. He’s still a kid, and he loves to bat," Parag remarked.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a tumultuous start as Jofra Archer dismissed Phil Salt with a sharp bouncer on the very first delivery. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal responded effectively, forging a rapid 45-run partnership in just 17 balls, but Rajasthan retaliated vigorously. Archer sent Padikkal back, while Ravi Bishnoi made a significant impact by taking down Kohli and Krunal Pandya with quick wickets. Excellent fielding from Shimron Hetmyer further exacerbated RCB's troubles. Jitesh Sharma soon followed suit, leaving RCB in a precarious position at 76/5 in 8.4 overs.

Romario Shepherd provided a brief counterattack, scoring a brisk 22 before falling to Ravindra Jadeja. Debutant Venkatesh Iyer then teamed up with Rajat Patidar, shifting the game’s dynamics. Patidar transitioned from a cautious approach to a rapid half-century, highlighted by several sixes. However, he eventually fell to Sandeep Sharma. A late surge from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Iyer (29 off 15) saw RCB finish with a respectable total of 201/8 in their 20 overs.