Minutes before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashed a sensational 97 off 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 15-year-old was spotted paying homage to batting great Sunil Gavaskar by touching his feet. After receiving the legendary batter’s blessings, Sooryavanshi produced the kind of aggressive, boundary-hunting innings that has already defined his season, helping Rajasthan Royals defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs and earn a spot in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
Key takeaways
- Sooryavanshi scored 97 off 29 deliveries in the IPL 2026 Eliminator versus Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Rajasthan Royals won that Eliminator by 47 runs and progressed to Qualifier 2.
- Gavaskar said Sooryavanshi touched his feet before the match and received a familiar message of encouragement.
- With 65 sixes in the season so far, Sooryavanshi has surpassed Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes in a single IPL campaign.
- Gavaskar believes the teenager is ready for T20 International cricket and should not be held back by age.
- Aakash Chopra praised the talent but argued that an India call-up can wait given the youngster’s age and the long lead-up to the next World Cup.
From blessings to a record-shattering knock
On the eve of Rajasthan’s Eliminator clash, the young batter was seen approaching Gavaskar and seeking his blessings. Gavaskar later recalled the interaction, describing how Sooryavanshi had come up to him right before the game during a ground visit and then shared what he planned to carry into his innings.
Gavaskar explained that the message he gave the teenager was the same one he had offered earlier: “What I would say to him is exactly what I said to him yesterday when he came just before the match, and we were doing a show on the ground. When he came and he touched my feet and I, and all I said to him was, ‘lage raho bete, lage raho,’ and that is exactly what I would say if I was batting with him down the other end.”
That encouragement clearly didn’t take long to translate into impact. Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings powered Rajasthan in the Eliminator, where they eventually overwhelmed Sunrisers Hyderabad by a margin of 47 runs.
Road to Qualifier 2 and the India debate
With the win secured, Rajasthan Royals—champions in their only IPL title in 2008—now set their sights on Qualifier 2. The match is scheduled against Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur, with the fixture taking place in New Chandigarh on Friday.
Sooryavanshi’s surge has also come with a significant milestone in the six-hitting department. His blistering run has taken him past Chris Gayle’s long-standing benchmark of 59 maximums in a single IPL season. Sooryavanshi currently sits on 65 sixes, and his next test promises to be a thrilling one against Gujarat Titans’ bowling attack in Qualifier 2.
Gavaskar also suggested that the next step for the youngster should not be delayed. In comments made on the YouTube show Sports Tak, he said 2026 would be remembered as “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Year,” adding that the teenager is prepared for T20 International cricket. Gavaskar further argued that the England away T20 series presents an opportunity, stressing that the youngster’s recent performances deserve a chance rather than waiting indefinitely.
He also dismissed the idea that age should be a barrier, pointing to Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach against established bowlers. “Don’t go by his age. He is hitting those bowlers who are older than him. In fact at 15, he is hitting bowlers with 15 years of international experience. Just look at his fearless approach,” Gavaskar said.
Chopra’s view: treat him seriously, but don’t rush the debut
Former India batter Aakash Chopra echoed the excitement around Sooryavanshi, describing him as a “special” talent. However, Chopra felt that his India debut does not have to happen immediately, citing the calendar and the team-building cycle.
Chopra noted there are still two years to the next World Cup, meaning there is time to manage the teenager’s progression. He added that selecting Sooryavanshi for India based on IPL form is an enticing prospect because the IPL is India’s premier T20 competition and the records being broken cannot be ignored.
At the same time, Chopra cautioned against making changes purely for the sake of it. He argued that selection should be driven by performance and team needs rather than replacing settled contributors after a big IPL showing. He specifically referenced Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as players currently topping the order of India’s team dynamics, suggesting that dropping them would not be justified simply because another batter has produced a burst of runs.
Chopra also explained how the pressure on selectors can build when a new talent emerges. He said people like Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh, and Pragyan Ojha will face questions, but they must make the call that best serves Indian cricket. In his view, Sooryavanshi’s debut does not have to be tomorrow—there is no need to rush given he is only 15.
Chopra summed it up by insisting that the process should be thoughtful rather than reactive: the youngster’s form should be taken seriously, but the pathway to India can still be paced correctly.
