Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on May 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
That boy. He has done it again.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came up with another sensational innings to power Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in a must-win IPL 2026 tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on a warm Tuesday night. His 93 off 38 balls (7×4, 10×6) helped the Royals chase down the target of 221 with five balls to spare.
A win against Mumbai Indians in their last match on Sunday (May 17, 2026) in Mumbai will take them to the playoffs. The victory against LSG in front of a full house came after three defeats in a row.
And those thousands of fans were fortunate to witness that incredible show by Sooryavanshi. It was breathtaking stuff, truly. The way he hit sixes into the stands, on either side of the wicket, was something you very rarely get to see.
There was this six over extra-cover off Prince Yadav, which he followed it up with a hit deep into the stands over mid-wicket. And before that, there was this ramp shot against the same bowler: there was a touch of genius about that stroke.
Sooryavanshi’s innings came to an end when he was caught at long- on off Mohsin Khan, who would have heaved a sigh of relief as he failed to run the batter, earlier in the over, despite having all the time in the world.
The wunderkind, however, had done his job. It was Yashasvi Jaiswal, the stand-in captain, that first provided the fireworks in Royals’ chase. He hammered a 23-ball 43 (8×4, 1×6) and put on 75 for the first wicket with Sooryanvashi, who then was involved in a 105-run association with Dhruv Jurel (53 n.o., 38b, 3×4, 3×6) that would more or less ensure Royals’ victory.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh’s 96 (57b, 11×4, 5×6) and his opening wicket stand of 109 with fellow Australian Josh Inglis (60, 29b, 7×4, 3×6) helped LSG to 220 for five after being put in.
The visiting side failed to keep the momentum, though, and a superb final over from Jofra Archer saw it lose three wickets for an addition of five runs.
Then, that boy took centrestage. And how.
Published – May 20, 2026 12:27 am IST
