Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 28 Balls Stuns SRH as Rajasthan Royals Post 243/8 in IPL 2026 Eliminator Thriller

New Chandigarh, May 2026 : In one of the most explosive innings ever witnessed in the Indian Premier League knockout stage, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking 97 off just 28 balls to dismantle Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack and propel Rajasthan Royals to a towering 243/8 in 20 overs in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The teenage sensation, already being hailed as a generational talent, tore into a disciplined Sunrisers attack led by skipper Pat Cummins, rewriting record books with astonishing ease. His knock included a rapid fifty off just 16 balls, equalling the fastest in IPL playoffs history alongside Suresh Raina’s 2014 effort. In a further statement of dominance, Sooryavanshi also surpassed Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a single T20 tournament phase before falling agonisingly short of what would have been a record-breaking IPL century.

His dismissal came at 97 when he attempted another aggressive uppercut and top-edged a delivery to deep third, ending a knock that had already dismantled Sunrisers’ plans and left the crowd in disbelief.

SRH had entered the match with a clear tactical blueprint. Cummins placed deep fielders at square leg and midwicket, repeatedly attacking the stumps with full and straight deliveries. For a brief moment, the strategy appeared promising. But Sooryavanshi responded by launching a six over mid-off off just the third ball he faced, setting the tone for what followed.

Rajasthan raced to 20 without loss in two overs as Eshan Malinga was also taken apart. A short ball was pulled over backward square leg, while fuller deliveries were driven and lofted with effortless timing. By the end of the fourth over, Sooryavanshi had raced to 36 off just 10 balls, and RR were already at 63 without loss.

Sakib Hussain suffered the worst of the carnage as Sooryavanshi struck boundaries across all parts of the ground, overtaking Gayle’s six-hitting record in the process. At the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal played a subdued supporting role, managing just 29 off 26 balls while watching the carnage unfold.

At the end of Sooryavanshi’s dismissal, Rajasthan were 125/1 in just eight overs, having already inflicted severe damage on SRH’s bowling unit.

The momentum continued through Dhruv Jurel, who smashed a 20-ball fifty and kept the scoring rate at an extraordinary level. He targeted Cummins and the spinners alike, using scoops, pulls, and straight hits to maintain pressure. Jurel’s 50 came in just 20 balls before he was dismissed soon after, leaving RR at 192/3 in 13.5 overs.

Riyan Parag added 26 before falling, while Dasun Shanaka (5) also perished cheaply as SRH briefly clawed back control through disciplined middle-overs bowling. Despite this, Rajasthan remained firmly ahead at 220/5 after 17 overs, with power-hitters still in the dugout.

Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja added a quick 20-run partnership off 12 balls, though chaotic running led to Ferreira’s run-out. Jofra Archer fell shortly after attempting a big finish, caught at long-on by Abhishek Sharma.

Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled a tight 19th over, conceding just five runs with precise wide yorkers, helping SRH restrict further damage in the death overs. The final over ensured Rajasthan ended at 243/8, despite the earlier onslaught.

Brief Scores:
Rajasthan Royals 243/8 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 97, Dhruv Jurel 50; Praful Hinge 3/54, Shivang Kumar 1/19) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.