The IPL 2026 Eliminator delivered a headline-grabbing moment as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted a blistering 29-ball 97, leaving fans wondering how close he came to the speediest hundred in league history. The 15-year-old’s innings didn’t just turn heads—it drew instant admiration from cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar and Chris Gayle, who praised the sheer impact of his batting.
Quick facts
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck 97 off 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator.
- His innings was described as nearly matching the fastest-ever IPL century.
- Pakistan businessman Javed Afridi praised the 15-year-old on social media.
- Sooryavanshi has scored 680 runs in 15 matches in IPL 2026.
- His strike rate in the ongoing season is 242.85.
- Rajasthan Royals are two wins away from the IPL 2026 title, with Sooryavanshi as a key driver.
That buzz wasn’t confined to India. Javed Afridi, a Pakistani businessman who owns Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League, also voiced his admiration for Sooryavanshi, calling the innings “pure brilliance.” Writing on his official X account, Afridi highlighted how the knock delivered constant thrills “edge-of-the-seat” style.
Afridi’s message went beyond praise for one performance. He framed franchise cricket as a vital pathway for young talent, arguing that leagues such as the PSL create the same kind of stage the IPL has offered Sooryavanshi. He urged the need to build more opportunities so that Pakistan’s young players can showcase their skills and “light up the world” in the way Sooryavanshi has.
Sooryavanshi’s rise appears to be gathering momentum at exactly the right time. Even though it is only his second year in the IPL, he has already been rewriting expectations with a steady stream of match-winning output across IPL 2026.
For the season, the Rajasthan Royals youngster currently sits at the top of the run-scoring charts. In 15 matches, he has amassed 680 runs, maintaining an eye-popping strike rate of 242.85—numbers that underline how quickly he can swing games in T20 cricket.
With performances like these, Sooryavanshi has become a central force in a Rajasthan Royals unit that looks markedly rejuvenated. The franchise now find themselves just two wins short of lifting the IPL 2026 title, with his current form setting the tone each time the batting order takes the field.
