Vaibhav Sooryavanshi putting the brakes off against Gujarat’s international-heavy bowling group at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur will live long in IPL folklore. In that spell, he slammed the second-fastest century in Indian Premier League history, turning the game on its head in a way that felt almost unreal. Now, RR and GT are set to meet again about a month after their last IPL 2026 encounter.
For Rajasthan, the early overs have often looked like the difference-maker when their top order takes on Gujarat’s pace. If RR can land another strong start, the momentum could tilt quickly—just as it has done in earlier meetings. The head-to-head ledger currently favours Gujarat 6-3 overall, but the most recent run of results has been far tighter, with both sides splitting their last six meetings 3-3.
Quick facts
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced the second-fastest century in IPL history against GT at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
- RR and GT are scheduled to play again in IPL 2026, roughly a month after their previous meeting.
- Overall head-to-head: Gujarat leads 6-3.
- Recent balance: 3-3 split in the latest stretch of matchups.
- The next game is expected to be played on a batting-friendly Jaipur pitch.
- Irfan Pathan highlighted the psychological edge Sooryavanshi holds, even as tournament context has changed.
Speaking with a focus on that earlier clash, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan revisited why the Sooryavanshi innings stood out so sharply. He described the youngster—labelled the “fearless prodigy”—as someone who went straight at a world-class Gujarat attack, even when his team’s results were not going smoothly. Pathan’s point was that the moment carried an element of surprise: a teenager taking on the best under pressure, while Rajasthan were trying to find consistent wins.
However, Pathan believes the backdrop for this rematch is different. He expects memories of last season’s knock to remain fresh for both Sooryavanshi and the Gujarat bowlers, but he also noted that the circumstances have shifted—RR have secured a place in the top four, while GT are building momentum step by step. The former all-rounder also pointed to the sheer scale of Sooryavanshi’s current impact, noting that he has amassed 400 runs at a strike rate of 230 in the season so far.
That current form is what makes Jaipur such a key testing ground for RR’s young core. Pathan said it will be worth watching whether the aggression that defined that historic evening can be repeated on what are expected to be flat wickets. With the pitch offering support for strokeplay, the contest could quickly become a battle of intensity—especially early on—if RR’s batters manage another assertive start.
What could decide the contest
The next phase of this rivalry may come down to whether Gujarat’s senior bowlers have crafted a workable plan to curb Sooryavanshi’s relentless approach. Pathan’s underlying message was that the psychological advantage still leans toward the youngster, though the tournament situation is no longer the same as it was during that earlier high-profile game in Rajasthan.
With conditions at Sawai Mansingh Stadium forecast to deliver plenty of scoring opportunities, the margin for error for the visiting side is likely to be extremely small. As the playoff race tightens, this meeting becomes more than just another fixture—both franchises will be looking to underline their authority and set a tone that carries momentum forward.
