Gujarat Titans will head to Jaipur on May 9 with a clear reminder of what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can do — a batters’ century that defined the conversation last season. The Titans and Rajasthan Royals had already met earlier in IPL 2026, and in that contest RR edged GT by six runs. Rajasthan’s success was powered by Ravi Bishnoi, whose spell was decisive, finishing with figures of 4/41 (4). This time around, however, GT’s biggest focus will be the young right-hand batter, who is only 15 years old and has already shown he can unsettle even the most established names.
Sooryavanshi has repeatedly looked comfortable against senior opposition, taking on bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood with ease. When RR played GT in Ahmedabad earlier this season, he produced a rapid burst of batting, smashing 31 runs off just 18 balls. His innings included five boundaries and a maximum, and he struck at 172.22, turning pressure into momentum for his team. And while that cameo showcased his ability to accelerate, it was last season’s Jaipur story that truly set the benchmark.
In the previous campaign at the same venue, Sooryavanshi struck a century against Gujarat Titans — a knock that also ranked as the second-fastest hundred in IPL history. The teenager attacked the bowling with the confidence of a seasoned campaigner, reaching 101 off just 38 deliveries. His innings featured seven fours and 11 sixes, with a strike rate of 265.79, underlining how aggressively he chooses to play. For GT, the challenge now is not just stopping runs, but doing so against a batter who can flip a match in very few balls, and who carries that kind of fear into opponents’ plans.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan highlighted exactly why that earlier innings will still linger in the minds of both teams. Speaking on JioStar, he said there will be memories of the knock against GT last season — not only for the Royals’ “Fearless Prodigy” but also for the Titans’ bowling unit. Pathan noted how unexpected it was to see a teenager take on the best, especially when the match situation wasn’t going RR’s way. “There will be memories of that knock,” he added, pointing to the impact of Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach.
On the points table, Rajasthan Royals currently sit fourth, having won six matches and lost four. They have also played one game more than fifth-placed Gujarat Titans, who are on 10 points. Despite the Titans’ position in the standings, the season’s narrative has increasingly revolved around Sooryavanshi, who has emerged as one of the league’s standout performers. He has amassed 404 runs from 10 matches, averaging 40.40, and his strike rate stands at 237.64. So far, he has already recorded one century and two half-centuries in the season, reinforcing his role as a consistent match-winner rather than a one-off event.
Pathan further suggested that the dynamic may feel different this time, even though Sooryavanshi’s threat remains the same. He observed that the situation has shifted: RR have managed to lock in a place in the top four, while GT are gradually building momentum. With 400-plus runs for the youngster at a strike rate near 230, he described it as outrageous and said it will be intriguing to see whether the Royals’ young core can deliver again on what are expected to be flatter wickets in Jaipur.
For Gujarat Titans, May 9 presents a straightforward but demanding task — to find a way to neutralise a batter who has already shown he can dominate across conditions. For Rajasthan, it is about converting that fear factor into another big innings, this time on the road and under the spotlight created by last season’s century and the earlier win in IPL 2026.
