Ambati Rayudu hails Dhruv Jurel after IPL 2026 Eliminator against SRH

Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu has showered praise on Dhruv Jurel after Rajasthan Royals registered a comprehensive 47-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad at New Chandigarh in the Eliminator on Wednesday. After Vaibhav Suryavanshi gave a blistering start to his team, Jurel was able to carry on the momentum.

The wicket-keeper bat scored an impressive knock of 50 runs off just 21 balls as he smashed five fours and three sixes. Jurel scored his runs at a strike rate of 238.10 and thus delivered for RR when it mattered the most.

Ambati Rayudu said on ESPN Cricinfo, “A 20-ball 50 is always brilliant on any surface. If you can get that, it is always above par in most conditions. He’s played a very good knock. Looks like a second fiddle to what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has done, but this knock in itself, I would rate it as good as a match-winning knock. In the end I feel that knock is the difference. Otherwise, if you look at the match, they have struggled in their batting.”

On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored a stunning knock of 97 runs off just 29 balls. The left-hander smashed five fours and 12 sixes in his blistering knock and Cummins admitted he couldn’t do much as Suryavanshi didn’t give them any chance.

He said in the post-match presentation, “Yeah, he played pretty well. [You] don’t feel like you have too many options. Obviously, it’s a really good pitch, but the margins are so small you know. You miss your yorker by a little bit [and] he doesn’t tend to miss them. So yeah fair play.”

RR will take on GT in the second qualifier on Friday.