Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may be only 15, yet his approach at the crease carried the calmness and control of a seasoned campaigner. On Tuesday, with the Rajasthan Royals needing a win over the Lucknow Super Giants to keep their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive, the teenage batter produced a sensational chase-driving knock—smashing 93 off 38 balls—to guide his side to a successful run chase of 221. The innings didn’t just tighten the Royals’ grip on their qualification path; it also offered a fresh glimpse of the level Sooryavanshi could reach in the years ahead for both franchise cricket and Indian cricket.
Chase pressure and a breakout knock
In the early phase of the chase, Sooryavanshi looked measured rather than reckless. He managed just 11 runs from his first 12 deliveries. However, once he found rhythm, the acceleration was immediate—his half-century arrived off only 23 balls, and from there he pushed the innings to the finish with authority.
Sooryavanshi on mindset, focus, and handling the spotlight
After the match, Sooryavanshi spoke to Murali Kartik and explained how he stayed composed while chasing a demanding target. With Rajasthan just one victory away from the IPL playoffs, he appeared unbothered by the noise surrounding him.
When asked whether he reads what people write about him, the Bihar teenager responded with a relaxed confidence:
- “I don’t read papers and all. Nothing much. I don’t really see too much, I don’t read newspapers and all, so I don’t think too much about it. I just think that this is only the start.”
- He added that if his career continues for a long time, more commentary will surely follow, but his priority must remain cricket: “If my career becomes long and I play for a long time, people will say many more things. My focus should just remain on the game and I should complete my journey.”
He also detailed the thinking behind his start during the chase. Having observed the wicket while positioned outside during the bowling innings, he felt it was offering something for batters, but he still wanted to avoid rushing.
- “I was just thinking… the wicket looked good.”
- “I was thinking that today I shouldn’t rush too much at the start; I should take some time.”
- “If I bat for a longer period, it’s going to help the batter at the other end as well.”
- He said he knows he can clear the boundary—“I know I can hit two or three boundaries or sixes at any time”—and therefore believed in taking a little more time rather than accelerating immediately.
- His plan, he explained, was to “not rush too much, and try to take the game right to the end.”
Celebrations, next match, and praise from Yashasvi Jaiswal
Sooryavanshi also addressed the curiosity around his celebrations. When asked about his distinctive routine, he said he tries to bring something fresh each day.
- “Even I don’t know what that was; even the last game’s celebration didn’t mean anything. I just keep trying new things.”
Looking ahead to the final group match on Sunday, he stressed that the focus should remain on the immediate task—finishing strong and enjoying the occasion:
- “We just want to focus on the last game and enjoy it, and we want to win.”
Rajasthan’s captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal, wrapped up the praise by highlighting the impact of batting through the chase. He described wanting to play the right attacking shots to build momentum, and then explained how both batters decided to ensure one of them stayed at the crease until the end—crediting Sooryavanshi for delivering the finish.
- “The way Vaibhav batted, he absolutely killed the game. I wanted to play good cricketing shots and get the momentum.”
- “Vaibhav and I said one of us should play till the end, and he killed the game.”
