Didn’t just play below average or bad, they played pathetic cricket

Former Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin slammed the current side for their abysmal showing in the crucial IPL 2026 clash against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Jaipur on May 9. With the playoff race heating up, both teams were desperate for a win to climb into the top four.

However, RR failed to turn up in front of their home fans, folding to a 77-run defeat. After conceding a massive 229 in 20 overs, RR were bowled out for an embarrassing 152 in the 17th over.

Talking about RR’s shockingly poor showing, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel (0:27):

“GT definitely played well, but this match rests solely on RR. RR didn’t just play below average or bad; they played pathetic cricket. Jofra Archer bowled such a terrible first over. I am not sure who he was angry at or whether he was angry at himself for bowling such an abysmal over. Only the free hit ball, he didn’t bowl like one. The rest of the over was full of free hit balls.”

He continued:

“They bowled almost six balls on the seventh stump on the leg side just inside the powerplay. It was unfathomable how a team could bowl so much on the legs. RR were never in the game to decide which phase they lost it in. Are GT a team capable of scoring 230? Yet, if you have given them that score, you should ask yourself if you have played well.”

The loss took RR out of the top four and into fifth on the points table with 12 points in 11 outings.

“It’s as important as an elephant or a horse on a chessboard” – R Ashwin on RR’s overseas players

Ravichandran Ashwin slammed RR for their team selection, especially the choice of overseas players, in the clash against GT. RR brought out-of-form batter Shimron Hetmyer back in the mix, while batting Dasun Shanaka at No.8.

“They are playing Dasun Shanaka as one of their foreign players. When you can have only 4 foreign players in a team, it’s as important as an elephant or a horse on a chessboard. You are choosing Shanaka as one of them and playing him at No.8. Why? Play him at No.11 only then (sarcasm). Nobody knows why Hetmyer goes out and comes in,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).

He concluded:

“They are also making so many changes for no reason. They went hard at Ravi Bishnoi and picked him. He was leading the Purple Cap at one stage and is a former No. 1-ranked T20I bowler. Though he didn’t bowl well in a couple of matches, I would suggest you rather lose playing him. If you do such things, how will the confidence of a team not be affected?”

A fifth loss in their last seven matches means RR will likely have to win their remaining three matches to qualify for the playoffs.