Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced his arrival in IPL 2026 in spectacular fashion, smashing a breathtaking 15-ball half-century just three days after turning 15, as Rajasthan Royals cruised to an emphatic win over Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.
Chasing a modest target of 128 after CSK were bowled out for 127, Sooryavanshi made light work of conditions that had earlier troubled seasoned batters. On a pitch initially described as “sticky,” he launched an all-out assault during the powerplay, effectively deciding the game within the first six overs.
He raced to his fifty in just 15 balls, finishing the powerplay on 52 off 16 deliveries, with five sixes and four boundaries, as RR surged to 70 without loss. His fearless approach ensured the chase was wrapped up with ease, sealing an eight-wicket victory with 47 balls to spare.
“The plan was to maximise the powerplay,” Sooryavanshi said after the match. “In small chases, the game can be decided early. We wanted to go hard, and it worked for us.”
The innings was even more remarkable given that CSK’s batters had struggled throughout their innings against the same surface. Sooryavanshi admitted the pitch improved as the ball got older but credited preparation and team backing for his performance.
“The management told me to stick to my natural game. I trusted my preparation and just played according to the situation,” he said.
There was a moment of luck early on when he was dropped on his first ball by debutant Kartik Sharma, but CSK paid heavily for the missed opportunity.
Having already impressed in IPL 2025 with a blistering century, Sooryavanshi’s latest knock further underlines his immense potential, marking him as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket.
