Kumble Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Be Rajasthan Royals’ X-Factor Against Gujarat Titans

New Delhi, May 2026 : Former India captain Anil Kumble believes young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could once again prove decisive for Rajasthan Royals when they face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Kumble said Rajasthan Royals may still be viewed as underdogs despite their impressive campaign, but insisted the team could gain a major advantage if the young opener survives the powerplay and delivers another aggressive start at the top of the order.

Speaking ahead of the crucial knockout clash, Kumble admitted the contest was difficult to predict because both teams possess match-winning players and strong bowling attacks. However, he leaned slightly towards Rajasthan due to the form of Vaibhav, who has emerged as one of the biggest discoveries of the season.

“It’s really hard to predict because Rajasthan have done well, yet they still seem to be the underdogs. I think I’ll go with the underdogs. I’m still expecting Vaibhav to do what he did against SRH because if Vaibhav does that, Rajasthan will have the advantage,” Kumble said during his interaction with JioHotstar.

The 15-year-old opener has enjoyed a remarkable IPL season and currently holds the Orange Cap as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. Vaibhav played a stunning innings of 97 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator, helping Rajasthan secure a dominant victory and progress further in the playoffs.

Kumble praised the youngster’s consistency throughout the tournament and said his performances cannot be viewed as isolated flashes of brilliance.

“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the Orange Cap holder, and that doesn’t come from doing it just once or against a couple of teams. He’s done it consistently over the last two months, and that says a lot about the youngster,” Kumble said.

The former India leg-spinner also highlighted Vaibhav’s fearless style of batting, noting that he has become one of the tournament’s leading six-hitters. However, Kumble stressed that the opener’s true value lies not just in aggressive stroke play but in his ability to dominate the powerplay and provide Rajasthan with momentum early in the innings.

“It’s not just about going out there and bashing a few sixes, even though he is the highest six-hitter now. If he bats through the Powerplay, RR will have the advantage,” he added.

At the same time, Kumble warned that Gujarat Titans possess one of the strongest new-ball attacks in the competition and could trouble Rajasthan early. He pointed specifically to the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, both of whom have consistently delivered with the new ball this season.

“GT have a very set plan. They have Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada bowling three overs each, and that’s where the game could change,” Kumble explained.

He further noted that conditions in Ahmedabad this season have generally favoured seam bowlers, which could work to Gujarat’s advantage if they execute their plans effectively.

“They have done really well in Ahmedabad, where the conditions help the seam bowlers. It didn’t happen for them in Dharamshala, but they’ll be hoping that with the new ball, if they hold those lengths consistently, they can nick him off and get an early breakthrough,” he said.

The winner of the high-stakes Qualifier 2 clash will advance to the IPL 2026 final on Sunday, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are already waiting after securing a direct berth in the title clash.

Team Maverick.