A Historic Performance in Mullanpur
On Wednesday evening in Mullanpur, the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed one of the most extraordinary innings in its history. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old sensation from Bihar, delivered a breathtaking 97 runs off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. His performance was nothing short of unreal and has already been etched into the annals of IPL history.
This wasn’t the first time that Sooryavanshi had captured the attention of cricket fans this season. He is currently sitting at an impressive 700 runs, helping his team, Rajasthan Royals, progress to Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans. The final spot in the tournament is hanging by a thread, with the stakes higher than ever.
A Rising Star with Massive Fan Support
Sooryavanshi’s popularity is evident from the stands, where a large crowd can be seen wearing #03 jerseys in support of the young cricketer. He has become one of the few players in the sport who receive such overwhelming and vocal backing, similar to legends like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.
Currently, Sooryavanshi leads the Orange Cap race with 680 runs and an astonishing strike rate of 242.85. He also tops the six-hitting list for the season with 65 sixes, and he still has two more matches to play. His performance has drawn comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar, with many fans believing that India hasn’t seen a teenager dominate world-class bowling attacks like this since the legendary batter.
A Journey from U19 to the Big Stage
Rajasthan Royals picked Sooryavanshi when he was only 13 years old, and since then, he has gone on to win the U19 World Cup. He played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ playoff run this year, further cementing his status as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Sooryavanshi has already earned a spot in the India A squad, and it seems likely that a call-up to the senior national team may not be far away. His growing fame has also significantly boosted jersey sales for Rajasthan Royals, with sources close to the franchise stating that they have never seen such high demand for any player’s kit before.
Admiring Legends and Making His Mark
According to his U19 teammates, Sooryavanshi admires stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, much like many kids of his generation. Sharing the spotlight with them in terms of jersey popularity is a significant achievement for the teenage batter.
Despite facing some of the best bowlers in the country, Sooryavanshi delivered one of the greatest playoff-type knocks in IPL history at Mullanpur. He smashed 97 runs off 29 deliveries, including five boundaries and 12 sixes, making a powerful statement on the field.
Even though he narrowly missed the fastest IPL century that night, the India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan struggled in comparison, scoring 29, 0, and 17 respectively.
A Stellar Performance That Secured a Win
After the leadership change following Sanju Samson’s departure, Rajasthan Royals have handled Sooryavanshi’s development exceptionally well. Despite the pressure, he continues to deliver on the biggest stage. His explosive 97-run innings powered Rajasthan Royals to a massive 243/8, which led to a clear 47-run victory and secured their place in Qualifier 2.
With just two matches left in IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi has already scored 680 runs across 15 innings. He is currently 28 runs ahead of Sai Sudharsan, while Shubman Gill is third with 618 runs, still in the mix. If Rajasthan Royals’ youngster shines again against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, he could become the youngest player ever to lift the Orange Cap in IPL history.
