Shane Bond Blames Tight Schedule After Rajasthan Royals’ Heavy Loss to GT

Rajasthan Royals coach Shane Bond blamed a packed IPL 2026 schedule and batting failures after RR suffered a heavy loss to Gujarat Titans.

Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond admitted his side failed badly after Gujarat Titans handed them another heavy loss in IPL 2026. The loss in Jaipur became RR’s seventh defeat in eight home matches since last season.

Gujarat openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan once again dominated, helping the visitors cross the 220-run mark comfortably. Bond said Rajasthan looked tired after playing five matches in short gaps of three days each and lacked sharpness in a crucial game. The former New Zealand pacer also pointed at the struggles of RR’s middle order, including Shimron Hetmyer, while admitting the team misread the pitch conditions. Bond said chasing 230 always remained difficult, especially with Rashid Khan operating on a helpful surface.

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“It was a disappointing performance from us. This was a really big game for us, with both teams on the same points. I have not seen the table in terms of net run-rate, but we will have to win two of our last three or maybe all three to make it through to the playoffs. The five games we had every three days, I think we were pretty banged up after that. We were not quite as sharp,” he said.

“Hettie (Hetmyer) would be the first one to admit that he did not get the runs that he would have liked. But that is the nature of the game. Across the board, we were not good enough, 230 was always going to be a big challenge. We misread the surface a little bit and then you had Rashid Khan, who makes things tough for you on such surfaces,” Bond added.

The coach then noted that modern T20 cricket now heavily favours batters, forcing bowlers to improve rapidly against scoops, reverse shots and aggressive strokeplay.

“The batters are playing the upper cuts, reverses and scoops. They have developed their shots. Bowlers have to develop their skills as well. For them, it is an opportunity to be like: ‘I can do that, I can elevate myself into a lot of money and be a superstar’. But we have not seen that consistently across the board. It is not easy for bowlers. But either you fear what is going on, or just see it as an opportunity to do better and put your name in the lights, especially if you are an Indian,” he said.

RR’s Playoff Chances Still Alive

RR now have 12 points and a Net Run Rate of +0.082 from 11 matches under captain Riyan Parag. Despite this defeat, Rajasthan still control their playoff chances with three league matches remaining. Three wins from three games will take them to 18 points and guarantee qualification, with a possible top-two finish. Two wins will lift them to 16 points, which historically remains enough for a playoff spot.

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However, one win will leave RR on 14 points and dependent on Net Run Rate and other results. Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently hold a far superior +1.234 NRR.

Rajasthan’s remaining fixtures could help their campaign. They face Delhi Capitals away on May 17, followed by matches against Lucknow Super Giants at home and Mumbai Indians away.