Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Kumar Sangakkara applauded his team’s all-round performance after their win over table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS). Reflecting on the match, Sangakkara added that RR were not at their best initially with the ball but credited the team’s fightback as well.

“We were a little bit off at the start with our bowling plans, but the way we fought back into the game, especially our two spinners and Jofra again, supported by Nandre and Brijesh, was exceptional,” he said during the post-match press conference. “I know the focus is a lot on Vaibhav because he’s an incredible player. But when I look at our side–Vaibhav, Dhruv, Yash, Riyan, Donovan Ferreira, Dubey, Jadeja, and Shanaka–they are all top cricketers. When someone does something extraordinary, it makes you very happy,” he added.

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Kumar Sangakkara also praised the impact substitute Dubey, stating the difficulty of delivering under uncertain match situations.

“Coming in as an impact sub is one of the hardest things. You don’t know if you’re playing, but mentally he was exceptionally skilful to stay focused and contribute in a tough situation,” he said. “Riyan’s small innings was exactly what we needed to bring the momentum back our way.”

“When you plan for a game, you don’t think about the table. You focus on what’s needed to prepare and execute,” he said. “For someone who hasn’t played first-class cricket, his awareness has been outstanding. Under pressure, clarity is key, and he will only get better,” Sangakkara added.