Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a sensational show in the IPL 2026 Eliminator on Wednesday, blasting a 29-ball 97 to power Rajasthan Royals (RR) past Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The innings was so eye-catching that even the opposition extended congratulations to the teenager, while SRH co-owner Kavya Maran was seen making a special gesture towards the youngster after the match—an interaction that quickly spread across social media.
SRH co-owner Kavya Maran’s gesture and post-match praise
- After the Eliminator, Kavya Maran personally congratulated Sooryavanshi, shaking hands with him and offering what appeared to be words of appreciation.
- SRH assistant coach James Franklin later praised the teenager’s ability to hit big, saying Sooryavanshi will only keep improving in the seasons to come.
Speaking to the media at the post-match press conference, Franklin said he had not seen anything like the talent on display. He called the current impact “freakish” and added that the youngster still has a long career ahead, describing it as “quite scary” to think about how much time remains for him. Franklin further emphasised that Sooryavanshi’s game will get stronger, more refined and more mature as he continues to develop.
Sooryavanshi’s season milestones and overall tournament form
Sooryavanshi also moved into rare company in the IPL record books. He overtook West Indies great Chris Gayle to become the player with the most sixes in a single IPL season, finishing the campaign phase with 65 maximums. He is also leading the run-scoring charts this year with 680 runs, striking at 242 and maintaining an average of 45. Along with the power, he has struck 55 fours in the tournament as well.
How SRH tried to bowl to him
Franklin explained that SRH’s margin for error against Sooryavanshi was extremely small, and that executing their exact plans was made even tougher by the nature of the pitch. He pointed out that, during the early part of the power play, the bowling plan was to deliver the ball very full, targeting inside the leg-stump channel to disrupt the timing and swing of the left-handed batter.
However, Franklin noted that once Sooryavanshi figured it out, the contest became far more complicated for the bowlers. He said the teenager has the skill to manipulate the field and force opponents to keep shifting lengths and lines, which then feeds into the areas where his strengths grow even more dangerous. Franklin summed it up by calling the innings another remarkable performance from an exceptional talent.
