Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a sensational display in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, blasting 97 off just 29 balls. His innings featured five boundaries and 12 sixes as he struck at will, taking aim at Pat Cummins, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge. While Sooryavanshi carved out multiple milestones, he fell one step short of Chris Gayle’s mark for the quickest IPL hundred—on 97 off 28 deliveries, he was dismissed on the very next ball by Praful Hinge.
Key takeaways
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck 97 runs off 29 balls in the Eliminator versus Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- His innings included 5 fours and 12 maximums.
- Sooryavanshi was out immediately after reaching 97 off 28 balls, missing Chris Gayle’s fastest IPL century record.
- Rajasthan finished on 243/8 in 20 overs and won by 47 runs.
- The Royals’ next assignment is Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans on Friday.
‘AI’ potential and the prototype comparison
As Sooryavanshi continues to light up the IPL with record-breaking impacts, former India batter Aakash Chopra compared his trajectory to artificial intelligence, suggesting there is no clear limit to where the youngster’s career could go. Chopra drew a “prototype” analogy, pointing out that Sachin Tendulkar had established a benchmark early—debuting for India at the age of 16—while also stressing that the scale of possibilities for a 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi today is hard to measure.
Chopra said he often finds himself short of answers when discussing Sooryavanshi’s ceiling, because the modern version of such early talent comes with uncertainty. He framed it as a situation where the game’s future is difficult to predict, much like how AI can generate endless outcomes. In that context, he argued that Sooryavanshi’s performances this season are exactly what makes people feel the “AI” comparison is fitting.
Looking beyond T20: Test hopes and new-generation ideas
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers also weighed in on Sooryavanshi’s development, expressing a personal desire to see him succeed in Test cricket. He suggested that the next wave of players may largely focus on shorter formats—T20s and ODIs—before wondering whether Test specialists could still emerge later. De Villiers added a hope that the Test format remains strong and healthy in the years ahead.
On the numbers side, Sooryavanshi has already written his name into IPL history. He became the youngest player in league history to cross 600 runs in a single edition, and he also surpassed Chris Gayle’s previous record for the most sixes hit in one IPL season—further underlining the power-hitting statement he has made throughout the tournament.
Eliminator impact and Royals’ path forward
Sooryavanshi’s knock powered the Royals to a formidable total of 243/8 in their 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. The chase never truly caught up, and Rajasthan ultimately secured a convincing 47-run win. With the victory, the Royals now turn their attention to Qualifier 2, where they will take on Gujarat Titans on Friday.
