Teenage Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Drives Royals to IPL 2026 Qualifier Victory
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old sensation, showcased his extraordinary talent in the Indian Premier League during the second qualifier on Friday, scoring an impressive 96 off 47 balls. This performance followed his earlier explosive innings of 97 from just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which secured the Rajasthan Royals a spot in this critical match. Facing the Gujarat Titans, the Royals found themselves in a precarious position at 9-2, thanks to the exceptional bowling from Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. Despite initially struggling to find his rhythm, Sooryavanshi demonstrated resilience, hitting his first six off Rabada on just his 14th delivery. After being struck on the helmet while on 56 off 32, he shifted gears, scoring 39 runs off the next 14 balls before being dismissed. By the time he was out, the Royals had reached 176-6, ultimately finishing the innings at 214-6, with Donovan Ferreira contributing 38 off 11. Sooryavanshi's ability to handle aggressive fast bowling has drawn attention, with former West Indies paceman Ian Bishop noting that some teams are already on their "Plan Z" against him. In practice, Sooryavanshi has been honing his skills against teammate Jofra Archer, embracing the challenge of facing fast bowlers. Bishop remarked on Sooryavanshi's fearlessness in the nets, highlighting his unique approach to training and competition.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-29