Rajasthan Royals made light work of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, winning by six wickets in a chase that was blown wide open by teenage hitter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Chasing 202, the 15-year-old produced a fearless spell of power-hitting, striking 78 runs off only 26 balls to guide RR home in 18 overs.
Quick facts
- Match result: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets
- Chase target: 202
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 78 off 26 balls (7 sixes)
- Dhruv Jurel: 81* (not out)
- Rajasthan Royals finished: 202/4 in 18 overs
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru made: 201/8 in 20 overs
- RCB innings highlights: Rajat Patidar 63; Venkatesh Iyer late boost
Sooryavanshi’s innings was a statement in speed and intent. He brought up his half-century in just 15 deliveries and kept accelerating from there, clearing the ropes seven times as the chase gathered momentum in a hurry.
Dhruv Jurel provided the calm alongside the chaos, remaining composed with a classy 81 not out. Together, the pair forged a 108-run stand that effectively removed any real pressure from RR’s shoulders once they started finding momentum.
Sooryavanshi takes charge
The youngster had no trouble handling seasoned bowling attacks, taking on bowlers such as Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with striking ease. Boundaries came at will, and the way he attacked both loose and testing deliveries left the bowling group and the crowd reacting in surprise.
From driving through yorkers to punishing tighter balls, his confidence looked effortless. It wasn’t just about hitting hard—it was about timing, shot selection, and the willingness to attack even when the ball was in the hitting zone for only a moment.
This knock also underlined that Sooryavanshi isn’t merely a promising youngster. After an encouraging first season, he appears to have returned with more bite, pushing the boundaries of what’s typically expected in T20 cricket and maintaining a strike rate that kept the game out of reach.
In many ways, the innings suggested he’s not following trends—he’s rewriting them. The sheer pace of his scoring, including the ability to exceed what even high-intensity benchmarks look like, made the chase feel almost inevitable once he settled in.
RCB set the stage
Earlier, Bengaluru posted 201 for 8 in their 20 overs, building a competitive platform through Rajat Patidar’s 63. Venkatesh Iyer added late momentum, ensuring the total looked respectable on the scoreboard.
But once Sooryavanshi found his rhythm, the target started to shrink. The momentum swung so quickly that RR’s chase turned into a controlled sprint, with the finishing line reached well inside the allotted overs.
Brief scores
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 201/8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 63; Jofra Archer 2/33, Ravi Bishnoi 2/32, Brijesh Sharma 2/37).
Rajasthan Royals: 202/4 in 18 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 78, Dhruv Jurel 81*; Krunal Pandya 2/30, Josh Hazlewood 2/44).
