Drew McIntyre turned heads ahead of the IPL 2026 Eliminator by sharing a gym clip in a Rajasthan Royals shirt bearing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s name. The post, captioned “Chosen One,” spread quickly online ahead of Wednesday’s knockout showdown, where the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi is set to face a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that has gathered momentum in the tournament’s second half.
The Eliminator matchup pits Sooryavanshi against an SRH unit that has looked sharper after Pat Cummins returned as captain. In the league stretch that followed his comeback, Sunrisers Hyderabad won five of their last seven matches, turning the pressure back onto their opponents as the playoffs approached.
Quick facts
- Drew McIntyre posted a gym video wearing a Rajasthan Royals jersey with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s name ahead of the Eliminator.
- McIntyre captioned the post “Chosen One,” which went viral before Wednesday’s knockout clash vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Sooryavanshi, aged 15, will play the Eliminator against an SRH side that gained momentum after Pat Cummins returned.
- SRH won five of their last seven league matches after Cummins rejoined the team.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals twice in the league stage.
- Rajasthan Royals confirmed their playoff qualification on the final day of the league stage.
- Riyan Parag captained Rajasthan Royals as a full-time leader for the first time this season.
- Key batting contributions for RR: Sooryavanshi 583, Yashasvi Jaiswal 397, Dhruv Jurel 458.
- Key batting contributions for SRH: Abhishek Sharma 563, Travis Head 393, Ishan Kishan 569, Heinrich Klaasen 606 at No. 4.
SRH go into the Eliminator with a psychological edge as well as form, having already beaten Rajasthan Royals twice during the league phase. That head-to-head record gives the Sunrisers a clearer picture of how to handle Rajasthan’s threats when it matters most.
Rajasthan’s path to the playoffs, though, was not straightforward. They only locked in their place on the last day of the league stage, and now the group will be hoping to convert that late push into a deeper run by finally getting the better of SRH in the knockout round.
Captaincy and batting load
Riyan Parag leads that mission after taking up the role as full-time captain for his first season in charge. While the campaign has brought scrutiny for both his batting and his leadership decisions, the franchise still managed to reach the playoffs under his captaincy, setting up this Eliminator as a chance to silence the doubters.
Rajasthan’s batting has leaned heavily on the top order, with Sooryavanshi compiling 583 runs in the season. Yashasvi Jaiswal has added 397, while Dhruv Jurel has contributed 458, giving RR a trio they can build innings around even when the match tightens.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, have leaned on a similar top-order formula. Abhishek Sharma has scored 563 runs, Travis Head has made 393, and Ishan Kishan has reached 569, allowing SRH to set a strong platform early and keep the opposition chasing from an uncomfortable position.
At No. 4, Heinrich Klaasen has been central to SRH’s finishing rhythm, posting 606 runs this season. With that middle-over stability, Sunrisers have had the tools to turn solid starts into match-winning totals, and the pressure will now be on Rajasthan to disrupt SRH’s flow.
With the Eliminator scheduled for Wednesday, the spotlight will stay fixed on whether Rajasthan can translate their late-season playoff qualification into a knockout breakthrough—especially against a side that has already shown it knows how to beat them.
Meanwhile, fans can follow the upcoming IPL match between RCB vs GT and keep track of the latest IPL updates, including the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
