In a spectacular display of talent, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored an impressive 97 runs off just 29 balls, leading Rajasthan Royals to a decisive victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL eliminator. Sooryavanshi’s performance was marked by an astonishing tally of 12 sixes, several of which he hit off the bowling of Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins.
Record-Setting Performance
Sooryavanshi reached the landmark of 50 runs in just 16 balls and had a golden opportunity to break Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century. Unfortunately, he was caught while attempting an aggressive upper cut on the last ball of the eighth over. This dismissal came after an exhilarating stretch where he struck boundaries on seven consecutive balls.
Match Statistics
- Player: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Runs Scored: 97 runs off 29 balls
- Sixes Hit: 12
- Fastest Half-Century: 16 balls
- Team Score at Dismissal: 125-1 after 8 overs
Alongside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal supported the innings with 25 runs off 20 balls. Following his remarkable performance, Sooryavanshi ascended to the top of the IPL run-scorers list for the season.
Reactions and Records
This historic knock was well-praised, with cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar stating, “What an innings. What a player. That is an innings to remember.” Sooryavanshi’s seventh six, struck during the fourth over, set a new record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous record of 59.
Pat Cummins noted the challenge of bowling to a player of Sooryavanshi’s caliber, saying, “The margins are so small. You miss your yorker by a little bit and he doesn’t tend to miss them. Fair play.”
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s remarkable feats not only captured the crowd’s admiration but also marked a pivotal moment in IPL 2026. His performance signifies both a personal milestone and a potential turning point for the Rajasthan Royals in the tournament.
