Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag heaped praise on teenage batting standout Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the Royals’ IPL 2026 journey concluded with a seven-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. Even though Rajasthan fell short, Sooryavanshi again caught the eye, firing a sparkling 96 from only 47 balls at Mullanpur on Friday.
The 15-year-old opener kept his fearless approach going throughout the tournament, dismantling Gujarat’s more experienced bowling unit through confident, high-quality shot-making. Rajasthan had suffered early blows with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel departing quickly, but Sooryavanshi managed to steady the innings while still striking with intent.
After the match, Parag struggled to downplay his admiration for the youngster’s temperament. “I can’t really put it into words. There’s one way where you go out and slog to pile on runs, but he doesn’t play like that. You could see his innings today—he thinks things through and then plays his shots. I can’t explain it, but I truly hope he keeps building his career, does well for the Rajasthan Royals, and helps us win a second title,” Parag said.
Rajasthan set a competitive target of 214/6, with Ravindra Jadeja making a key impact by finishing unbeaten on 45. Donovan Ferreira then raised the tempo with a blistering 38 not out off just 11 deliveries, including a surge in the final over where Ferreira struck Rashid Khan for four sixes to propel the total past the 200-mark.
Despite the strong platform, Gujarat’s chase looked far more comfortable, driven by an outstanding start from Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. The two batters combined for 167 runs in 77 balls, effectively overpowering Rajasthan’s bowling plans.
Gill led the chase in style, scoring 104 off 53 balls with a blend of clean timing and attacking intent. Sudharsan added 58 at a brisk pace, though his innings ended with yet another unusual hit-wicket dismissal.
The victory carried Gujarat Titans to their third IPL final since the franchise joined the league in 2022. They will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Even with the defeat, the spotlight lingered on Sooryavanshi, whose performances have quickly established him as one of the breakout names of IPL 2026.
