Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 Eliminator ended with heartbreak-by-a-margin as he was dismissed on 97 off 29 balls, narrowly missing Chris Gayle’s benchmark for the quickest century in the tournament’s history. Yet the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals rising star insisted he felt no regret about falling short of the record, saying he would rather add 80 runs than reach a hundred if it helped his team secure victory. In the build-up to Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi also promised he would keep playing with the same fearless intent as RR prepare to face Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans on Friday.
Near-record 97 and the “team first” mindset
Sooryavanshi’s aggressive display in the Eliminator brought him to the verge of a historic milestone, but his innings concluded at 97 runs off 29 deliveries. While the achievement remained one step away, his outlook was firmly focused on impact rather than personal landmarks.
He explained that his father instilled a “team first” philosophy from a very young age, arguing that runs only matter when they contribute to winning. Speaking to JioStar, Sooryavanshi said that if someone scores a hundred, a double century, or even a triple century but the team still loses, then those numbers do not truly hold value for the side.
- Sooryavanshi said his father taught him that individual big scores are meaningless if they don’t help the team win.
- He stressed that even if he doesn’t reach a century, runs that lead to a win are more important to him.
- He added that longer runs in the tournament and deeper playoff runs create more opportunities for him to score centuries and chase records.
Qualifier 2: intent, mindset and belief in strengths
With Rajasthan Royals set to take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday, Sooryavanshi made it clear that the approach will not change. He said the team is aiming to enter the big contest with a positive mindset, continuing the same habits that helped them throughout the campaign.
In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of enjoying the game rather than carrying the pressure associated with a high-stakes match. He also insisted that RR will back their strengths as a unit, with the shared objective of reaching the final and lifting the trophy.
- Sooryavanshi said RR will go into Qualifier 2 with “good mindset” and “positive intent”.
- He urged the team to enjoy the contest and avoid treating it like a match that brings extra pressure.
- He stated that RR want to reach the finals collectively and, hopefully, win the title.
Rising star status: MVP buzz after a huge run
Sooryavanshi is already attracting strong tournament-wide attention and is currently viewed as a frontrunner for the “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) award in IPL 2026. His season has featured rapid scoring and consistent contributions, with the teenager having smashed 680 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 242.85.
- Runs this IPL 2026: 680
- Matches played: 15
- Strike rate: 242.85
- Current MVP outlook: favourite for the award
