Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a headline-grabbing performance in the IPL 2026 Eliminator, blasting Sunrisers Hyderabad out of the contest with an explosive innings that carried Rajasthan Royals to a 47-run victory and a berth in Qualifier 2. The 15-year-old opener struck 97 off only 29 balls, smashing 12 sixes in the process, narrowly missing out on a century but making sure his fearless approach dominated the evening.
Sooryavanshi’s 97 powers Rajasthan into Qualifier 2
In a match where momentum shifted quickly, Sooryavanshi took control from the outset. Although he fell short of a hundred, his 29-ball knock—featuring 12 maximums—proved decisive enough for Rajasthan to secure the Eliminator win and advance to the next stage of the tournament.
One of the defining storylines was the manner in which he accumulated sixes. Chris Gayle, famed for setting the benchmark for the most sixes in an IPL season, highlighted the youngster’s milestone after Sooryavanshi reached 65 sixes in the tournament. That total moved him past Gayle’s record of 59 sixes set in 2015.
Gayle’s reaction to the six-hitting surge
Gayle shared his admiration for the teenager’s power hitting, praising him as a sensational talent and calling him a “new six machine,” celebrating the way Sooryavanshi’s season has taken the league by storm.
What Sooryavanshi said after missing the fastest hundred
After the match, Sooryavanshi addressed the questions that came with such a near-miss at a landmark score. When asked about narrowly missing the fastest IPL hundred, he said he only learned about the detail after the game.
He also made it clear that his mindset throughout was not about personal milestones. His priority, he explained, was to keep finding boundaries—especially sixes—and to pile up as many runs as possible for his team, adding that centuries can come later.
Archer’s early strikes sink SRH
While the batting provided the spark, Jofra Archer played a critical role in shaping the outcome with key breakthroughs at the perfect time. The England pacer struck during the powerplay, dismissing Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan in early phases of Hyderabad’s chase.
Hyderabad bowled out before the chase could build
With those losses piling up, SRH never managed to recover their rhythm. The chase ended with Hyderabad all out for 196 in 19.2 overs, handing Rajasthan the 47-run win.
Next up: Rajasthan face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2
Having secured their place in the next stage, Rajasthan Royals will take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, with a spot in the IPL final at stake.
Rising-star recognition also followed the innings. India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the youngster’s bravery and impact, encouraging him with a message that called his display a top-class effort and suggested he could become a future star.
