Harbhajan Singh Compares Yashasvi Jaiswal-Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Hayden-Gilchrist After RR Beat GT

Harbhajan Singh draws parallels between RR’s young opening duo and Australia’s legendary pair after their match-winning performance.

Rajasthan Royals pulled off a thrilling six-run win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, powered by a strong batting display and a fearless approach at the top. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh heaped praise on the opening pair, comparing their impact to one of the most destructive duos in cricket history.

Explosive start sets the tone for Rajasthan Royals

RR posted a commanding total of 210/6, thanks to a brisk opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The duo stitched together a 70-run partnership in just 38 deliveries, immediately putting the opposition under pressure.

Suryavanshi played a quickfire knock of 31 off 18 balls, while Jaiswal anchored the innings with a fluent 55 off 36 deliveries. Their aggressive intent early on laid the foundation for RR’s big total, which eventually proved just enough to seal a narrow victory.

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Harbhajan Singh compares RR duo to Hayden-Gilchrist

Impressed by their fearless batting, Harbhajan Singh drew comparisons with Australian legends Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

“Yashasvi and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, seeing both of them reminds me of Gilchrist and Hayden. The fear they used to create when they came out to bat was something else; teams would literally stand up straight, thinking, here come the big hitters. Now these two are young, but their aura and impact are just like Hayden and Gilchrist, and they have created the same kind of fear,” said Harbhajan on his YouTube channel.

He further highlighted the impact of the young opener despite his short stay at the crease.

“Both played amazing innings. Vaibhav scored 31 off 18 balls, but the buzz all over India is that if you don’t get him out, he can take the game away from you. Today, he didn’t last long, but Yashasvi broke through with 55 runs,” he added.

Dhruv Jurel’s brilliance strengthens RR’s dominance

Apart from the opening pair, Dhruv Jurel played a crucial role in the middle order, scoring an impressive 75 off 42 balls. His innings included five boundaries and five sixes, showcasing both composure and attacking flair.

Harbhajan was full of praise for the wicketkeeper-batter’s maturity and consistency.

“Then Dhruv Jurel, however much you praise him, it’s not enough. He scored 75 off 42 balls with explosive batting. The way he played was commendable. Such a mature innings from a player you usually expect to see from a seasoned player. But he has been around only for a year or two, and has already played such innings, so hats off to him. Truly impressive,” said Harbhajan.

RR will next face Mumbai Indians on April 7 in Guwahati, while Gujarat Titans are set to take on Delhi Capitals on April 8 in Delhi.