Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi says he doesn’t rehearse celebrations and prefers bringing something fresh to every game, a mindset that shone through again as his 93 helped RR defeat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in an IPL match on Tuesday.
Key takeaways
- Sooryavanshi struck 93 runs off 38 balls as Rajasthan chased down 221 successfully.
- RR reached the target in 19.1 overs, keeping their playoff hopes firmly in the mix.
- During his innings, he marked his fifty with an unconventional inverted V hand gesture.
- Lucknow posted 220 for five after Mitchell Marsh’s 96-ball assault.
- Sooryavanshi also moved up to second place in IPL history for most powerplay runs in a season.
Sooryavanshi’s knock and the “no plan” celebrations
Sooryavanshi hammered 93 off 38 deliveries as Rajasthan hunted down 221 with 19.1 overs to spare, turning the chase into a platform for RR to stay alive in the playoff race.
His momentum included a memorable mark at the fifty—an inverted V gesture with one finger laid across it. When asked about the celebration after the match, the left-handed batter insisted there was no script behind it.
He said, “I don’t know. I just do something new every match. I don’t really plan it. There’s no meaning behind it. Even the celebration I did in the last match had no meaning. I just keep trying new things.”
The youngster also indicated he doesn’t let external chatter affect him, adding, “I don’t read any newspapers. This is just the start. If I end up making a long career, people will always speak something about me.”
How Lucknow built 220 for five
Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants looked set for a big total thanks to Mitchell Marsh, who blazed 96 off 57 balls after being sent in to bat. His innings took the side to 220 for five.
Marsh added 109 runs with the opening batter Josh Inglis, who contributed 60 from 29 deliveries. Later, Marsh and skipper Rishabh Pant stitched another 64-run stand, with Pant making 35.
Rajasthan’s chase: partnerships and the finishing surge
In reply, stand-in RR captain Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 43 and combined with Sooryavanshi for a 75-run start to the chase.
Once Jaiswal was dismissed, Sooryavanshi took the game forward with Jitesh Sharma, and the duo added 105 runs together. Jitesh finished unbeaten on 53, helping ensure Rajasthan reached the target comfortably.
Sooryavanshi rises in powerplay history
Beyond the match result, Sooryavanshi made another statement in RR’s opening overs. He moved to second on the all-time list for most runs scored in the powerplay in an IPL season, collecting 25 runs off 16 balls during the first six overs of the chase.
Most powerplay runs in an IPL season: 467 — David Warner (2016); 426 — Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)*; 402 — Travis Head (2024); 402 — Sai Sudharsan (2025); 382 — Adam Gilchrist (2009).
