Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Praful Hinge’s fiery celebration after removing Rajasthan Royals’ teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became a talking point online during the IPL 2026 Eliminator on Wednesday. While many fans praised the intensity, others felt the reaction went too far—especially because Sooryavanshi was left visibly shell-shocked after falling short of a special landmark.
At a glance
- Match: IPL 2026 Eliminator on Wednesday
- Rajasthan Royals batter: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Innings: 97 runs off 29 balls with 12 sixes
- Bowler: Praful Hinge (took the wicket of Sooryavanshi)
- Controversy: Some social media users criticised Hinge’s celebration as “excessive”
- Reaction: Abhishek Sharma came over to console Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi had been in an absolute destructive rhythm, smashing 97 off just 29 deliveries, including a barrage of 12 sixes. The innings not only underlined his power-hitting at the top level, but also pushed him close to a pair of record milestones that have defined T20 greatness for years.
He bettered Chris Gayle’s mark for the most sixes in a single IPL season, rewriting a benchmark that long belonged to the West Indies legend. However, he came agonisingly close to Gayle’s record for the quickest T20 century, falling short just when he appeared set to chase it down.
Hinge eventually dismissed the prized youngster, but it was the manner of the wicket celebration that sparked debate. In the aftermath, Hinge turned toward Sooryavanshi and even maintained eye contact while celebrating, a moment that drew sharp criticism from some viewers.
Several users on social media argued that such theatrics weren’t necessary, labelling it “excessive” and suggesting it overshadowed the quality of Sooryavanshi’s innings. Their point was simple: the batter’s knock had dominated the bowling attack, and the on-field reaction could have been handled with more restraint.
In the picture that accompanied the criticism, Sooryavanshi remained standing well away from the crease, clearly stunned and unable to fully process that he had been dismissed on 97. Even teammates recognised the impact of losing a knock of that magnitude, with Abhishek Sharma moving in to console him after the dismissal.
Tributes roll in for Sooryavanshi
Long before the social media backlash, the cricket world had already been struck by the sheer audacity of Sooryavanshi’s innings. Sachin Tendulkar led the praise, describing the batting display as standout and highlighting the left-hander’s “outstanding bat swing.”
Tendulkar also zoomed in on the technique behind the damage, noting how Sooryavanshi clears his front foot so well to create space for deliveries aimed at his legs. In Tendulkar’s view, that balance and freedom are what allow the teenager to play in the aggressive style he did throughout the 29-ball assault.
Other major names followed with their own assessments. Yuvraj Singh called the innings “unbelievable,” adding that the youngster’s impact felt like a special kind of spectacle—“great to watch,” in his words.
Former India batter Suresh Raina went a step further, suggesting that performances like this reassure people that the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands. Raina said the right vocabulary isn’t enough to describe what Sooryavanshi has done in the tournament, calling him a prodigy and pointing out that the public is genuinely eager to see him bat again.
For all the debate around celebration style, the common thread remained the same: the Eliminator showcased a teenager in full flight, backed by technique, timing, and fearless hitting—until Hinge ended it with a wicket that came too late for Sooryavanshi to reach the next level of history.
