Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: A subdued outing with the bat could not stop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi making scripting history as the teenage sensation rewrote the record books during Rajasthan Royals’ win over Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Wednesday.The 15-year-old opener managed just 8 off 11 balls in the low-scoring contest at the Ekana Stadium, but his short stay turned out to be historic. Sooryavanshi became the youngest player ever to reach 500 IPL runs, surpassing Prithvi Shaw (19 years and 164 days) and also the fastest to reach the milestone by the number of balls he reached in just 227 deliveries — 33 fewer than the previous record holder from Australia, Glenn Maxwell.Records are falling despite a meager outputAt just 15 years and 26 days, Sooryavanshi continues to redefine early success in the IPL. Former RR captain Sanju Samson (19 years and 195 days) now slips to third place in the list of youngest players to reach 500 runs. Despite Wednesday’s quiet knock, the youngster remains RR’s top scorer this season with 254 runs, including two explosive fifties in just 15 balls – joint third-fastest in league history.Overall, Sooryavanshi’s numbers underline his impact: 506 runs in 14 matches at an average of 36.14 and a staggering strike rate of 213. His reputation was cemented last season with a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans – the fastest by an Indian in IPL history and the second fastest overall.Ravindra Jadeja shines as RR bounce backWhile Sooryavanshi broke records, it was Ravindra Jadeja who anchored the victory with a crucial all-round display. His unbeaten 43 combined with a crucial wicket earned him the Player of the Match award, which he dedicated to his wife Rivaba Jadeja.Jadeja admitted that the pitch was tricky as the seam and swing made it difficult to play pulls, prompting him to take a patient approach. He changed pace smartly with the ball, even joking about having Nicholas Pooran “in his pocket” after outwitting him.RR captain Riyan Parag felt that his side had dipped slightly with the bat, suggesting that a total closer to 180 was possible. However, the bowlers led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger ensured that the target was more than enough.The win lifts Rajasthan Royals to the second spot in the points table, while Lucknow Super Giants remain near the bottom.
