IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin pokes fun at Cheteshwar Pujara over ‘missed salute’ to Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive knock in RR vs MI clash

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A light-hearted social media exchange added a dose of humour to an already thrilling IPL 2026 clash, as Ravichandran Ashwin playfully mocked Cheteshwar Pujara for his reaction to Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive innings during the Rajasthan Royals’ face-off against Mumbai Indians. The moment, which quickly went viral, came amid widespread praise for the young batter’s fearless approach.

The banter unfolded after former India spinner Harbhajan Singh applauded Vaibhav from the commentary box with a salute, acknowledging the youngster’s fearless strokeplay. Sitting beside him, Pujara appeared to smile but refrained from joining in the gesture, a moment that did not go unnoticed.

Ashwin, known for his witty presence on social media, reacted to a clip shared online and took a cheeky dig at his former teammate. In a humorous post, he joked that while he too saluted the knock, his “dear friend Pujara didn’t salute properly,” adding laughing emojis to underline the playful tone. The comment quickly gained traction among fans, who enjoyed the camaraderie between the seasoned Indian cricketers.

“Mera bhi salute, but my dear friend Pujara didn’t salute properly,” Ashwin wrote on X.

Mera bhi 🫡 but, my dear friend Pujara dint salute properly😂😂😂 https://t.co/DGkP00hTvT

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) April 8, 2026

Also WATCH: IPL 2026 – Tilak Varma’s spectacular catch on the boundary line removes Vaibhav Suryavanshi during RR vs MI clash

While the off-field banter grabbed attention, the real fireworks came on the pitch. Rajasthan Royals’ opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav delivered a blistering start in the rain-shortened 11-over contest. The duo stitched together an 80-run partnership in just five overs, leaving the Mumbai Indians bowlers searching for answers.

Jaiswal set the tone early, smashing 22 runs in the opening over against Deepak Chahar. The aggressive intent continued as they took on premier pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. Rajasthan raced to their half-century in a mere 2.4 overs, equalling their franchise record for the fastest fifty in IPL history and marking one of the quickest team fifties ever recorded in the league.

Vaibhav’s innings came to an end after a breathtaking 39 off just 14 balls, eventually dismissed by Shardul Thakur. Despite his early departure, the damage had already been done. Jaiswal carried forward the momentum with remarkable composure, remaining unbeaten on 77 from 32 deliveries. His calculated aggression ensured Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable 150/3 in their allotted overs.

Chasing a challenging target, the Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, struggled to keep pace with the required run rate. Despite a fighting effort, they could only manage 123 runs, falling well short of the target. The defeat marked their second consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, raising early concerns about consistency and execution.

Also WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi welcomes Jasprit Bumrah with a stunning six during RR vs MI clash at IPL 2026