Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 run has already started to look like a defining chapter in the league’s modern history, and the way he carried Rajasthan Royals through the business end of the tournament has only amplified the hype. After producing a record-shattering showing in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 15-year-old followed it up with another big performance in Qualifier 2—highlighting why his name has become one of the most talked-about in franchise cricket.
Eliminator heroics: 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad
With Rajasthan Royals staring at a must-win situation, Sooryavanshi delivered one of the most punishing innings seen in IPL history. In the Eliminator versus Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Bihar-born batter struck 97 off just 29 balls, firing his side past SRH and moving them into Qualifier 2.
- In the Eliminator, Sooryavanshi scored 97 runs off 29 deliveries to drive Rajasthan Royals into Qualifier 2.
- His innings included 12 sixes, a total that left both opponents and fans struggling to process what they were witnessing.
Qualifier 2 follow-up: 96 in the chase for the final
Sooryavanshi didn’t fade when the pressure returned. In Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, he once again played a starring role, smashing 96. Rajasthan Royals, however, could not complete the final push and ended up losing by seven wickets, missing out on a place in the title match.
- In Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, Sooryavanshi made 96.
- Despite his knock, Rajasthan Royals were defeated by seven wickets and fell short of the final.
What Liam Livingstone said about the impact
Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Liam Livingstone—who has experienced seven IPL seasons—admitted that Sooryavanshi’s fireworks were unlike anything he’d seen before. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket Podcast, the England international insisted he had never witnessed anything comparable, even after playing with and against top-level talent throughout the years.
Livingstone was especially struck by how quickly Sooryavanshi adapted across the tournament. He described how the teenager didn’t just rely on power, but kept finding ways to answer different bowling plans—whether it was dealing with bouncers or switching targets as matchups shifted.
- Livingstone said he has never seen anything like Sooryavanshi, despite it being his seventh IPL.
- He highlighted Sooryavanshi’s improvement from the start to the end of the campaign, noting the batter’s ability to adjust his hitting based on the length and variation offered.
IPL 2026 numbers: Orange Cap, MVP, and a six-hitting record
Beyond the headline knocks, Sooryavanshi’s season totals underlined just how dominant he was. The left-handed batter finished as IPL 2026’s leading run-getter, accumulating 776 runs across 16 innings. His strike rate—237.30—made the production even more striking, showing that his scoring wasn’t just consistent, but relentlessly aggressive.
He also rewrote the league’s six-hitting landmark by clearing the ropes 72 times during the season, surpassing the previous IPL record of 59 sixes set by West Indies great Chris Gayle. The campaign included one century and five half-centuries, and it earned him both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award.
- Sooryavanshi finished IPL 2026 with 776 runs in 16 innings, striking at 237.30.
- He hit 72 sixes in the tournament, breaking Chris Gayle’s earlier IPL record of 59.
- His season featured one century and five half-centuries.
- He won both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award.
