In a remarkable performance against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 78 runs off just 26 balls, bringing his total to 200 runs in the current IPL season. At just 15 years old, he previously made headlines as the youngest centurion in IPL history with a score of 101 against the Gujarat Titans last year. Throughout this season, he has impressively hit 18 sixes and an equal number of boundaries, including eight fours and seven sixes in his latest innings.
Sooryavanshi demonstrated his prowess by hitting Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood for one six and three boundaries in just four deliveries, and also managed to score 24 runs off nine balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Earlier in the tournament, he had also showcased his ability to take on top bowlers, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes during a 39-run innings that contributed to the Royals’ 27-run victory over the Mumbai Indians.
Reflecting on his approach to batting, Sooryavanshi mentioned that while he is aware of the bowlers, his focus remains on playing the ball itself. “It’s always in the back of my mind who is bowling. I try to concentrate on the ball rather than the bowler, aiming to play my game. My dad, my coaches, and Romi sir keep reminding me that the journey is long, and I need to focus on my process without getting distracted,” he shared after his team’s six-wicket win on Friday.
This recent innings marked Sooryavanshi’s second fifty in this season’s IPL. He has accumulated a total of 252 runs in seven matches, following his impressive 175 runs in the U19 World Cup final earlier this year, which helped India secure the championship. His performance in this IPL has been remarkable, with a strike rate of 266.67 and an average of 41.09.
Sooryavanshi expressed his desire to contribute even more when at the crease, stating, “When I’m batting, I feel that I could score 10-20 more runs or help chase a target one or two overs earlier. That’s what disappoints me, knowing I could have played for a bit longer.”
During his innings against the Mumbai Indians, he notably hit Bumrah for two sixes in a single over, drawing accolades from former Indian captain Anil Kumble. Kumble praised Sooryavanshi’s technique against one of the world’s best bowlers, noting how the young batsman managed to dictate the game. “Sooryavanshi makes it look easy. He sets up the bowler, which is something we usually see Bumrah doing to batters. His ability to wait for the slower ball and hit it for six was brilliant. The consistency he shows with a strike rate close to 300 is outstanding,” Kumble remarked on JioHotstar.
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