Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up Jaipur once more, firing a sensational 93 off 38 balls as Rajasthan Royals clinched a seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in a pivotal IPL 2026 encounter. The 15-year-old’s explosive knock kept Rajasthan in the thick of the playoff battle, and the side now requires just one more win against Mumbai Indians to improve its chances of finishing in the qualifying places.
Lucknow had set a demanding chase by posting 220/5, and Rajasthan’s reply began with confidence. Sooryavanshi struck 10 sixes and attacked nearly every bowler he faced, turning what looked like a high-pressure run chase into a surprisingly smooth chase. He kick-started the innings with a rapid partnership alongside stand-in skipper Yashasvi Jaiswal before expanding the platform further with Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten and contributed a half-century. Sooryavanshi fell seven runs short of a century, but by then the match had effectively shifted away from Lucknow.
Ian Bishop, speaking during the broadcast, captured the moment succinctly, saying: “He is ready.”
How Lucknow set the target
- Mitchell Marsh provided the backbone of the innings, smashing 96 off 57 balls to help Lucknow reach 220/5.
- Josh Inglis complemented him with an aggressive 60, and together they laid the foundation through a 109-run opening partnership.
- Even after Inglis was dismissed, Marsh kept the tempo high, continuing to find boundaries and keep the scoreboard moving.
- Marsh went close to a century but eventually fell short, leaving Lucknow with a total that still looked daunting for Rajasthan.
Rajasthan’s bowling response
Rajasthan’s bowlers found it difficult to impose control for most of the innings, with only young spinner Yash Raj Punja managing to slow things down and claim two wickets. Jofra Archer’s late control in the final over also played a role in restricting further damage as Lucknow pushed for a big finish.
Sooryavanshi’s form is now placing him in range of multiple IPL milestones, including Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a single season. His fearless hitting even created pressure on India pacer Mayank Yadav, who conceded heavily during one over.
While Lucknow’s playoff hopes ended with this defeat, Rajasthan head into their last league match with qualification still very much within reach.
