Rajasthan Royals’ teenage batting prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi brought a sweet moment into the dugout on Thursday, presenting cake to Romi Bhinder as the Team Manager marked his birthday. A Royals social media clip showing the youngster urging Bhinder to cut the cake quickly caught attention and spread rapidly online.
Quick facts
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi offered cake to Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder on Thursday for his birthday.
- The video showed Sooryavanshi asking Bhinder to cut the cake, with a playful back-and-forth afterward.
- During the match versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati, Bhinder was seen with a smartphone in the dugout.
- PMOA protocols allow team managers to use mobile phones, but not inside the dugout, which amounts to a breach.
- Sooryavanshi has made 200 runs in five matches for Rajasthan Royals this season, averaging 40.00 and striking at 263.16.
- Rajasthan Royals’ winning run ended against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 13, losing by 53 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
- Praful Hinge took 4/34, including a three-wicket haul in the opening over—an IPL first.
- Sakib Hussain contributed 4/24 as Sunrisers Hyderabad shared eight wickets between them.
- Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs after a recovery stand of 118 between Donovan Ferreira (69) and Ravindra Jadeja (45).
In the footage, Sooryavanshi arrives with a small cake and prompts Bhinder to cut it. He is heard saying, “Happy Birthday sir. Cake cutting karna hai.” When Bhinder responds that the cake has already been cut, the 15-year-old insists on doing it again, adding that it was done earlier and that “12 baje ke baad na,” in the same playful exchange.
The clip also captures Bhinder alongside Sooryavanshi as they look toward the action from the Rajasthan Royals dugout during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. Bhinder is seen scrolling on his phone with the youngster nearby, turning the background moment into a talking point for viewers.
Under PMOA guidelines, team managers are permitted to use mobile phones, but the restriction is clear for the dugout area. Using a phone there is considered a violation of protocol, and the incident has been flagged in the context of match-day conduct.
Season form and turning point
On the field, Sooryavanshi has been Rajasthan’s standout young batter this season. He is the franchise’s leading run-scorer so far, compiling 200 runs across five matches at an average of 40.00, while maintaining an explosive strike rate of 263.16.
But Royals’ momentum hit a roadblock as their winning streak ended in their next outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad. On April 13 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, debutant fast bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain combined to take eight wickets, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad register a convincing 53-run win over Rajasthan Royals.
Hinge delivered a dream start in the way only T20 cricket can produce. Based in Nagpur, he became the first bowler in IPL history to claim a three-wicket haul in the opening over. His spell dismantled Rajasthan’s top order as he finished with figures of 4/34.
Sakib Hussain, from Gopalganj in Bihar, followed up with the finishing touches. He struck again and again to end on 4/24, sealing the pressure-cooker advantage that Sunrisers built early.
Rajasthan, who were reeling at 9/5 at one stage, managed to claw their way back into the contest through a key partnership. Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja stitched together 118 runs, with Ferreira making 69 and Jadeja contributing 45, forming the second-highest stand for the sixth wicket or lower in IPL history.
Even so, the chase never fully gathered momentum. Rajasthan Royals were eventually bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, bringing their streak to an abrupt end as Sunrisers Hyderabad controlled the final outcome.
