IPL 2026: Sangakkara calls for sharper bowling execution and improved fielding display

With two defeats in as many matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara said the solution lay in sharper bowling execution and improved fielding ahead of Saturday’s (May 9, 2026) IPL clash against Gujarat Titans.

“I think it’s just about trying to execute as well as possible and backing it up with some good fielding. We can be a little bit smarter, a little bit better in the field,” he said.

Referring to the dropped catches in the loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, he said that the recently installed LED lights at the stadium required fielders to adjust. “They’re quite different from what we are used to in other grounds. They’re much brighter and give a larger amount of visibility. We’ve been trying to see what the right adjustment is, so that the fielders are comfortable and don’t lose the ball in the glare of the lights. We’ve spoken to the ground authorities, and they’ve tried to lower or extend or change the direction of the lights. In the second game (vs. Delhi Capitals), I think it was fine,” he said.

Sangakkara said Donovan Ferreira has “heavily improved” against “both spin and pace” with greater access to different areas of the ground, crediting his experience in “franchise cricket around the world.”

Asked whether teams now value adaptability over consistency in batting profiles amid rising scoring rates, he said: “Adaptability is always the key. Consistency always depends on whether your strike rate is appropriate for the context of the game. Your attacking intent is always there. So, consistency is a byproduct. It’s not something that we look for”.