Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting sensation, is capturing attention in IPL 2026 not only for his fearless hitting, but also for the manner in which he carries himself. While his aggressive strokeplay has quickly made him a household name, the teenager’s humility and his visible respect for cricket icons are winning fans far beyond the boundary.
Viral pre-match gesture draws praise
On the eve of Rajasthan Royals’ Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sooryavanshi was spotted during practice paying his respects to legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar. The moment—where the teenager touched Gavaskar’s feet in a traditional show of respect—spread rapidly across social media.
The heartwarming scene unfolded while Gavaskar and former India coach Sanjay Bangar were involved in a pre-match segment on the ground, with TV presenter Jatin Sapru also present. Sooryavanshi, who had been warming up nearby, noticed the duo and immediately paused his training to approach them and seek their blessings.
Explosive Eliminator knock powers Rajasthan
Sooryavanshi’s impact did not end with the pre-match goodwill. Later in the evening, he played one of the most destructive innings of the IPL 2026 season, turning the Eliminator into a statement performance for Rajasthan.
Opening the batting, the Rajasthan teenager smashed 97 off 29 deliveries. His knock overwhelmed the Sunrisers bowling unit and propelled RR to a commanding total of 243/8.
Before the match, he had been seen meditating calmly on the field, but once the contest began, he unleashed his full force against SRH, landing 12 maximums and adding five fours in the process. The innings was packed with intent from ball one, reflected in the rapid scoring and the sheer volume of boundaries.
Records in a blistering 97
- Sooryavanshi matched Suresh Raina’s benchmark for the quickest IPL playoff fifty, reaching the mark in just 16 balls.
- He also surpassed Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a single IPL season.
- He missed out on a century, getting out for 97 while trying to clear the ropes again.
Sunrisers bowled out; Archer seals the win
With Rajasthan setting a huge target, Jofra Archer delivered the decisive breakthrough spell. He removed Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan in the Sunrisers collapse.
In the end, SRH were dismissed for 196. That finish brought an end to their IPL 2026 campaign, as they suffered defeat against Rajasthan Royals for the first time since 2023.
Rajasthan Royals ultimately secured a convincing 47-run victory, earning their place in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
