Former Australia opener and Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer made headlines on Tuesday with a touching moment involving Rajasthan Royals batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The day, however, belonged on the field to the 15-year-old, whose explosive knock lifted RR to a memorable win as LSG—already out of contention—slid to their ninth loss in 13 matches.
Key takeaways
- LSG finished their campaign in defeat again, registering their ninth loss from 13 games.
- Lucknow posted 220/5 in 20 overs, but Rajasthan chased it down with five balls remaining.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the spotlight with 93 runs off 38 balls for Rajasthan.
- Justin Langer stepped in after the match to request a special photograph with the youngster.
- Langer described Sooryavanshi as “breathtaking” during the post-match press interaction.
LSG’s 220/5 falls short as RR hold their nerve
Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants put up a strong total of 220/5 in their full quota of overs. Yet the chase proved too smooth for Rajasthan Royals, who reached the target with five deliveries to spare and retained seven wickets in hand.
The defining factor was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s match-winning innings. The teenager produced a breathtaking display, striking 93 off just 38 balls to steer RR to victory and turn the spotlight squarely onto his rising talent.
Langer’s gesture and the praise that followed
After the game, Sooryavanshi was speaking with broadcasters about his innings when Justin Langer—clearly impressed—intervened with a request for a photograph. Sooryavanshi acknowledged the moment, asked the interviewer to pause, and posed for a picture with the Australian great.
The two then shared a handshake. Langer added that he would “treasure” the photo, underlining how much the gesture meant to him.
At the press conference, the compliments continued. Langer singled out the 15-year-old Rajasthan batter as “breathtaking,” noting how young he is while also stressing how impressive his batting looked both in this match and across the series.
“My gosh, he’s so young. He’s a brilliant, brilliant player and it’s a real privilege to watch him bat, actually,” Langer said during the post-match interaction. He went on to mention that he has watched many top performers over decades of cricket, but the sight of a youngster batting with such confidence has been “breathtaking” in its own right.
Langer also pointed out that Sooryavanshi has been the leading run-getter and suggested that the experience he gains will only sharpen his game further. He highlighted how the teenager has already been troubling elite bowlers with his shot-making.
Recalling specific moments, Langer referenced Mitchell Starc and Anrich Nortje, explaining how their expressions during Sooryavanshi’s hitting said plenty about the threat he poses. Langer then teased the upside that comes with learning and adapting—saying that if the bowlers’ faces tell a story now, the challenge could become even greater once Sooryavanshi develops his game further.
Sooryavanshi’s innings included seven fours and ten sixes, a return that backed up Langer’s assessment and ensured the teenager’s name would be remembered long after the final ball of the chase.
