Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was forced to leave the field after an injury scare during the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. The moment unfolded in the early phase of SRH’s chase of 229, shortly after Sooryavanshi’s explosive century had helped RR set a challenging target.
Injury scare during SRH chase
The incident happened in the third over of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s run chase. Sooryavanshi was pursuing a shot from Ishan Kishan when he suddenly slowed down and grabbed his hamstring. He appeared to be in significant discomfort, and the team physiotherapist stepped in to assist him off the ground.
- Sooryavanshi was helped off the field after clutching his hamstring during SRH’s chase.
- The injury occurred while chasing a ball from Ishan Kishan in the third over.
- He was attended by the team physio and removed from the playing area.
The scare also came with context on the Royals’ injury list, with Ayush Mhatre already ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a hamstring problem. Later updates described Sooryavanshi as being out off the field due to a hamstring cramp.
Sooryavanshi’s milestone and record-breaking century
Earlier in the same game, Sooryavanshi delivered a whirlwind performance that not only lifted Rajasthan Royals but also pushed him into rare statistical territory. Following his second IPL century of the season, the 15-year-old was celebrated for becoming both the youngest and the quickest player to reach 1,000 runs in T20 cricket.
In a contest between two sides viewed as potential playoff contenders, the young batter tore into the bowling attack. He smashed a 37-ball 103, striking at 278.38, with five fours and 12 sixes.
- Sooryavanshi made 103 off 37 deliveries, including five boundaries and 12 maximums.
- His strike rate for the innings was 278.38.
- The innings came after he delivered a “whirlwind” second IPL century, in a high-stakes clash.
How fast he reached 1,000 T20 runs
Sooryavanshi’s 1,000-run mark arrived at the age of 15, making him the youngest to do so in T20s. He also became the fastest to the milestone by balls faced, reaching it in just 473 deliveries—moving ahead of Australia’s Mitchell Owen (533 balls) and the late Australian great Andrew Symonds (558 balls).
- Youngest to 1,000 T20 runs: achieved at age 15.
- Fastest by balls faced: reached the milestone in 473 deliveries.
- He surpassed Mitchell Owen (533) and Andrew Symonds (558) on balls faced.
He reached 1,000 runs in his 26th T20 innings, placing him as the fourth-fastest batter to the total by innings played. Among those ahead of him are Australian batters Brad Hodge and Shaun Marsh, who both reached 1,000 in 23 innings. Across the 1,069 batters who have aggregated 1,000 runs in T20s, Sooryavanshi stood out as the only one with a strike rate above 200—212.2.
- Reached 1,000 T20 runs in 26 innings (fourth-fastest by innings).
- Brad Hodge and Shaun Marsh are the quickest by innings (23 each).
- Among 1,069 players with 1,000 T20 runs, he is the only one with a strike rate of 200+ (212.2).
Sooryavanshi was also noted as the first uncapped batter to score two IPL centuries. He added another quick-fire milestone as well, bringing up his half-century in only 15 balls—his third IPL fifty in 15 deliveries or fewer. In that regard, he went past Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had recorded two such rapid half-centuries during the 2024 season with Delhi Capitals.
With 12 sixes in the innings, Sooryavanshi also overtook Chennai Super Kings and India legend Murali Vijay, who had struck 11 sixes against the same opposition in 2010.
Season form and match context: RR’s 229 and SRH’s chase
This season, Sooryavanshi has delivered 357 runs in eight innings at an average of 44.62 and a strike rate of 234.86, including one century and two half-centuries. At the time of writing, he held the Orange Cap for the most runs in the tournament.
Rajasthan Royals ultimately posted 229 runs, and they will now need to defend that total to secure their fifth win of the season. Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, require a successful chase to register their own fifth victory.
Sooryavanshi’s 103 off 37 balls—powered by five fours and 12 sixes—alongside Dhruv Jurel’s 51 off 35 balls (eight fours and a six) gave RR a decisive push. The pair built a 112-run partnership that shifted momentum firmly in Rajasthan’s favour. A late cameo from Donovan Ferreira—33 off 13 balls with three fours and three sixes—helped the innings finish strongly.
- RR set 229 as the target to defend for a fifth win of the season.
- SRH need to chase down 229 to earn their fifth victory.
- Sooryavanshi: 103 off 37 (five fours, 12 sixes).
- Dhruv Jurel: 51 off 35 (eight fours, one six).
- Partnership impact: 112 runs between Sooryavanshi and Jurel.
- Late boost: Donovan Ferreira 33 off 13 (three fours, three sixes).
Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling and wicket-takers
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Eshan Malinga was the standout with figures of 2/38. Pat Cummins, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, and Nitish Kumar Reddy each claimed a wicket apiece. However, Sakib’s spell proved costly, as he conceded 62 runs in total.
- Eshan Malinga: 2/38, the leading wicket-taker for SRH.
- Pat Cummins: one wicket.
- Praful Hinge: one wicket.
- Sakib Hussain: one wicket, but expensive with 62 runs conceded.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: one wicket.
