Srikkanth Slams RR Management After Loss to DC in IPL 2026
The Rajasthan Royals’ stuttering IPL 2026 campaign suffered another blow on Sunday as they lost to the Delhi Capitals in Delhi, extending their losing streak to three matches. The performance has drawn heavy criticism from former India captain Kris Srikkanth, who slammed the team management for questionable decision-making.
Jadeja Dropped, Shocker in Delhi
Among the most controversial calls, Rajasthan chose to drop veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, bringing in inexperienced Ravi Singh instead. Srikkanth did not hold back.
“With qualification at stake, you make such a move. This match was the easiest chance for them against DC. Jadeja was a compulsory must for this match. How can you not play him in the 11? It was an absurd move,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Match Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
Rajasthan got off to a solid start after being asked to bat. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted 46 off 21 balls, taking on Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi alike. Dhruv Jurel and captain Riyan Parag added fifties and put on 72 runs in seven overs. However, Starc struck back in the 15th over, dismissing Parag, Donovan Ferreira, and Ravi Singh in the space of four deliveries. Rajasthan never recovered, slipping from 161/2 to 193/8 at the end of their 20 overs. Starc also dismissed Dasun Shanaka in the 19th over to claim Player of the Match honors.
In reply, Abhishek Porel and KL Rahul shared a 105-run opening stand, both scoring fifties. Despite a middle-order wobble, Axar Patel held firm with 20 alongside Tristan Stubbs and 22 with David Miller, before Ashutosh Sharma’s cameo sealed the win for Delhi.
Impact Player Move Under Fire
Srikkanth also criticized Rajasthan’s use of the Impact Player rule. The team replaced Shubham Dubey with Dasun Shanaka during their batting innings. Shanaka managed just 10 runs off 8 balls before falling to Starc and conceded 29 runs from his three overs, though he did dismiss KL Rahul.
“It was another stupid move. You are already a bowler short without Jadeja, and you bring in Shanaka just for the death overs. Archer himself could have done what Shanaka did. Shanaka did nothing with the bat or ball. He just got one fluke wicket of KL Rahul,” added Srikkanth.
Captaincy Calls Questioned
Riyan Parag’s decision to hand the ball to Donovan Ferreira in the 18th over also came under scrutiny. With DC needing 35 runs from three overs, Axar Patel and David Miller at the crease, Parag opted for Ferreira against the left-handers. The move backfired as Ferreira conceded 16 runs, including two sixes.
“He’s bowling that over because of two left-handers. Is he even an actual off-spinner? Shanaka should have bowled instead. After he gave 16 runs, Parag is throwing his cap as if it’s someone else’s fault. You captained foolishly. Why are you throwing your cap towards him? There are some rumblings within the team 100%,” Srikkanth opined.
Signs of Internal Strife?
Srikkanth also noted that Parag did not come forward to receive his trophy for the maximum sixes, hinting at deeper issues. “I am convinced there is something wrong with the team. Parag didn’t even come to receive his trophy for the maximum sixes. So there is something internally wrong within the team,” he remarked.
Playoff Hopes in the Balance
The Royals started the tournament brilliantly, winning their first four matches. However, they have since lost six of their last eight, including the last three straight, and sit on 12 points from 12 matches. They must win both remaining games to keep their playoff hopes alive, and even then, they will need other results to go their way.
Rajasthan will face the Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on May 19, followed by a match against the Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on May 24. Anything less than two wins will almost certainly end their campaign.
