Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning 97 off 29 balls to power Rajasthan Royals to a decisive win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League eliminator. The 15-year-old displayed remarkable composure and aggression, smashing 12 sixes in one of the most explosive innings of the season.
Sooryavanshi’s assault began early and immediately put the Sunrisers under pressure. He reached his fifty in just 16 balls and continued to target every part of the ground, including three consecutive sixes off Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins. His seventh six, struck in the fourth over, also took him past the previous IPL record for most sixes in a season, surpassing Chris Gayle’s mark of 59.
The young opener came within touching distance of another major milestone. After seven straight balls to the boundary, he needed only one more delivery to break Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century. However, he was dismissed in the eighth over while attempting an upper cut, caught at deep third and left visibly disappointed at the crease.
At the time of his dismissal, Rajasthan Royals were firmly in control at 125-1 after eight overs, with opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 25 from 20 balls. Sooryavanshi’s wicket did little to dampen the mood around the stadium, as both opponents and spectators acknowledged the quality of his innings with applause and a standing ovation.
India great Sunil Gavaskar, on commentary, described the knock as “an innings to remember” and praised the teenager’s exceptional talent. His performance not only helped Rajasthan Royals move ahead in the contest but also propelled him to the top of the IPL run-scoring charts for the current season.
Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins admitted the difference in the match came down to fine margins. He said that missing a yorker by a small amount could be costly against a batter like Sooryavanshi, who rarely misses scoring opportunities.
Sooryavanshi’s innings will be remembered as one of the standout performances of the IPL season, combining fearless stroke play, record-breaking numbers and the emergence of a precociously gifted young cricketer on one of the biggest stages in the sport.
