Teenage dynamo Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sent IPL buzz soaring after delivering a match-winning display in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Following the victory, the left-handed batter shared a short, three-word message on his Instagram, capturing the hunger that powered his stunning knock.
Sooryavanshi’s heroics in the Eliminator
- Sooryavanshi produced a whirlwind innings of 97 runs off just 29 balls, showcasing a barrage of six-hitting power.
- He narrowly missed out on Chris Gayle’s long-standing IPL mark for the fastest century, which still stands at 30 deliveries.
- After the match, the Rajasthan Royals opener posted photos from his innings on Instagram with the caption “hungry for more”.
- His 29-ball assault featured five fours and 12 sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 334.48.
- Powered by his effort, RR posted 243 for 8.
- Rajasthan then restricted Hyderabad to 196 all out, sealing a 47-run win to book their place in Qualifier 2.
With the result, Rajasthan Royals will take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, with the winner earning a place in the final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Records, reaction and growing reputation
Sooryavanshi’s knock drew instant admiration across the game. Chris Gayle, the former RCB great, wrote on X: “What a phenomenal player Vaibhav is. Great entertainment young man! The IPL has a new six machine.” Gayle also noted a key milestone from the teen’s run, pointing out that Sooryavanshi had broken his long-standing record of the most sixes in a single season during his brutal assault versus SRH the previous day.
Sooryavanshi has now reached 65 sixes, moving past Gayle’s tally of 59, a figure that had stood for more than a decade.
AB de Villiers added praise for the youngster’s temperament. Speaking on the post-game show, de Villiers said: “What stood out most about Vaibhav’s innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and SRH kept trying different plans, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young.”
Orange Cap chase and Qualifier 2 focus
With 680 runs and a strike rate of 242.86, Sooryavanshi currently holds the Orange Cap. He will be aiming to guide Rajasthan to the final for the first time since 2022, carrying his form into Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
