Gujarat Titans will need to stay extremely alert when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes on Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, with the teenage batter emerging as the tournament’s most dangerous early-inning threat. At just 15, Sooryavanshi has repeatedly altered the momentum of matches through fearless batting at the top, displaying a ruthless mindset even when the situation tightens.
Key takeaways
- Qualifier 2 pits Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals, with Sooryavanshi tipped as the Royals’ main match-winning danger.
- Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 29 deliveries in the previous knockout clash showcased how effectively he handles high-pressure moments.
- He has amassed 680 runs across the season and is leading the Orange Cap race.
- Gujarat is expected to target him early with a well-defined plan to prevent a fast start from snowballing.
- In their earlier league meeting, Gujarat’s tactics involving short-ball moments helped Mohammed Siraj claim his wicket.
- Assistant coach Parthiv Patel refused to reveal Gujarat’s exact strategy, while urging that the focus should stay on his talent rather than his age.
Why Sooryavanshi is shaping the Royals’ season
The 15-year-old has produced standout batting performances for Rajasthan Royals throughout the campaign, consistently turning games by taking control at the top of the order. His unbeaten aggression and willingness to play attacking shots have made him a batter opponents struggle to contain once he finds rhythm.
In the most recent knockout match, he struck a blistering 97 from just 29 balls, underlining that pressure does not faze him. Although he fell short of Chris Gayle’s mark for the quickest IPL century, the innings still stood out as one of the most destructive of the season, coming at the exact moment the game demanded a high-impact counterpunch.
Gujarat’s approach: stop him early, then execute
After already witnessing what Sooryavanshi can do when he gets going, Gujarat Titans are likely to enter Qualifier 2 with a focused plan aimed at removing him before he accelerates. The Titans are fully aware that a brief opening spell from him can quickly turn into a match-changing burst, forcing the opposition to rethink field placements and bowling lengths on the fly.
Gujarat’s intent to be proactive was reinforced by what happened in their earlier league encounter. In that match, their approach at times incorporated short-ball tactics, and it ultimately worked when Mohammed Siraj managed to dismiss the youngster.
At the pre-match press conference, Gujarat assistant coach Parthiv Patel addressed the attention surrounding Sooryavanshi. While he acknowledged the explosiveness of the batter’s form, Patel kept details of Gujarat’s specific plan under wraps, emphasizing the team would only share the full picture once the match is underway.
“I am not a broadcaster at the moment, so won’t be able to reveal our plans. I am very excited about the way he is batting. Hopefully, we will be able to get him out early in the game and we will be able to execute our plans. But what it is, you will only know when we are on the ground,” Patel said.
Patel on the age debate and the focus on performance
Patel also spoke about the conversation around the teenager’s age, making it clear that Gujarat wants the narrative to shift toward cricketing skill rather than numbers. He suggested that the constant attention on age is something that should be put to rest, describing Sooryavanshi as a genuinely exceptional talent based on the way he has been playing.
“The way he is batting, people are liking it. I said the same thing last time as well. We should not be talking about his age,” Patel added.
He further noted that, from Gujarat’s standpoint and from the opposition’s perspective, the primary wish is simple: to limit the runs. “I think that’s something we need to put an end to it. He’s been a phenomenal talent just the way he’s been playing. And it’s great to see him and just from the opposition’s point of view, we hope that he doesn’t get too many runs,” Patel concluded.
