NEW DELHI: A dazzling IPL 2026 contest offered plenty of big-hitting moments and a chase that kept everyone on the edge, but it was Rajasthan Royals\u2019 teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who truly owned the headlines. Even Pat Cummins\u2014despite being on the winning side\u2014couldn\u2019t hide his admiration after witnessing a performance that combined fearless timing with raw power. While Rajasthan ultimately came up short, Sooryavanshi\u2019s explosive 103 came off just 37 balls and stood out as the match\u2019s defining individual display.<\/p>\n
Sooryavanshi\u2019s knock helped Rajasthan set a formidable target, with the Royals finishing their innings on 228 for 6 after being sent in first. The 15-year-old batted with striking confidence, carving through the bowling attack and turning momentum into runs at a rapid pace. Cummins, speaking after the game, made it clear how impressed he was by the batter\u2019s impact: \u201cYeah, I think he\u2019s my new favourite player. He hits the ball so hard, it\u2019s great to watch. It\u2019s good fun.\u201d The captain added that the young hitter\u2019s effectiveness is tied to picking the right areas and punishing mistakes consistently. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be right on the money as a bowler. Because if you\u2019re not, it\u2019s going a long way. He\u2019s impressive.\u201d Cummins also praised the way Sooryavanshi takes the game forward, saying, \u201cHe\u2019s had a great start to his career. I love the way he plays. It takes the game on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crucially, Sooryavanshi wasn\u2019t carrying the innings alone. Dhruv Jurel provided the quick support Rajasthan needed, striking 51 off 35 balls. Together, the pair stitched a 112-run stand for the second wicket, creating a platform that made the total challenging from the outset. Later in the innings, Donovan Ferreira added impetus with a brisk 33, helping Rajasthan reach a mark that put pressure on any chase.<\/p>\n
Still, Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a chase full of intent and execution. Ishan Kishan spearheaded the run chase with a sensational 74 off 31 deliveries, while Abhishek Sharma added another 57 from just 29 balls. Their aggressive batting ensured SRH kept finding boundaries and maintained the required rate throughout. In the end, Hyderabad reached 229 for 5 in 18.3 overs, finishing the contest with nine balls remaining to seal a memorable win.<\/p>\n
For Cummins, the victory was immediate and emphatic, with his return as captain reflected in the way SRH hunted down the target under pressure. Though the outcome didn\u2019t go Rajasthan\u2019s way, the emergence of Sooryavanshi signals a promising future\u2014one that is already earning attention from cricket\u2019s biggest names.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI: A dazzling IPL 2026 contest offered plenty of big-hitting moments and a chase that kept everyone on the edge, but it was Rajasthan…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: Pat Cummins Praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Pat Cummins praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his explosive 103 off 37 balls in IPL 2026, despite Rajasthan\u2019s narrow loss in a thriller.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n