Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tried to hold back his feelings, but the emotion still broke through. The 15-year-old was left visibly shattered after Rajasthan Royals were eliminated from IPL 2026 following a loss to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2.
Key takeaways
- Rajasthan Royals were knocked out of IPL 2026 in Qualifier 2 by Gujarat Titans.
- Sooryavanshi struck 96 off 47 balls to help RR post a total above 200.
- In IPL 2026, he has 776 runs from 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30.
- He can still challenge for the Orange Cap and may finish as the top run-scorer if Gujarat’s openers don’t add enough in the final.
- Gujarat Titans sealed the chase in 18.4 overs with Shubman Gill making 104* off 53 and a 167-run stand with Sai Sudharsan.
Sooryavanshi’s fightback and Royals’ painful exit
Sooryavanshi once again delivered when his side needed him most. With Rajasthan facing the risk of a batting collapse, the teenager responded with a fearless counterpunch, scoring at a rapid pace to drag his team toward a competitive score of more than 200. It was another example of his ability to perform under pressure throughout the season, even though RR ultimately fell short and extended their wait for a second IPL title since lifting the trophy in the inaugural edition.
After the defeat, Sooryavanshi stayed seated in the dugout close to the boundary rope, staring out into the distance. The frustration was clear as he struggled to contain his emotions, with tears appearing close to the surface. The campaign has already marked him as one of the tournament’s breakout names, and his performances have made a strong case for his emergence at the top level.
A season defined by aggression, and a key innings in Qualifier 2
That reputation has been reinforced by his numbers across IPL 2026. In 16 matches, Sooryavanshi has accumulated 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, balancing reliability with high-impact hitting. He remains in contention for the Orange Cap and could still finish as the competition’s leading run-scorer if Gujarat Titans’ openers—Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan—fail to provide substantial contributions in the final against RCB.
On Friday, he produced yet another impressive innings by mixing aggression with control when Rajasthan slipped into trouble. The youngster had to adapt as RR lost a couple of early wickets, and then the innings suffered another downturn when three wickets fell between the 9.3 and 12.4-over marks.
Understanding the situation, Sooryavanshi toned down his instincts and focused on rebuilding rather than forcing the pace at every moment. His fifty came from 31 balls, the slowest fifty of his IPL career, a sign of the responsibility he took on at a critical stage. Once he helped steady the innings and the momentum began to shift back toward Rajasthan, he accelerated again with sharp, attacking intent.
He narrowly missed out on a century for a second straight innings, finishing in the nineties after a brilliant 96. In the process, he struck eight fours and seven sixes, doing much of the heavy lifting as he pushed RR beyond the 200-run mark almost on his own.
Gill’s unbeaten century seals the chase for Gujarat
When the chase began, Shubman Gill ensured that the decisive moment belonged to Gujarat Titans. The skipper remained unbeaten on 104 off 53 balls and guided the pursuit with authority. Together with Sai Sudharsan, who made 58, Gill built a match-winning 167-run partnership that effectively ended Rajasthan’s chances.
Gujarat Titans completed the chase in 18.4 overs, booking their place in the IPL 2026 final.
