Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (ANI Photo) After the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, former RR star Jos Buttler won back his heart with a touching gesture towards teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as he gifted him a bat after the match.Vaibhav has emerged as one of the standout performers of IPL 2026 with his fearless batting for Rajasthan Royals. Even as Rajasthan Royals lost against Gujarat Titans, the 15-year-old dazzled with a quickfire 36 off just 16 balls at a strike rate of 225, smashing three fours and three sixes.
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Why Suryakumar Yadav Will Lose India T20I Captaincy: Everything You Need To KnowThis was not the first heartwarming interaction between Buttler and the youngster this season. Earlier during their first meeting, the England star was seen sharing an emotional moment with Vaibhav where he heaped praise on the teenager, describing him as the best batsman he had seen at that age.“I said don’t get too excited about him but he is the best player I have ever seen at this age. Imagine where he will be 21 or 25, the world is at his feet. He is so good to watch,” Buttler said in a video shared by Rajasthan Royals.He also appreciated Vaibhav’s fearless attitude and reminded him of his stunning performances during the U-19 World Cup.“You broke England’s hearts at the Under-19 World Cup. It’s amazing. You’re playing so well, keep it up. The freedom is amazing to watch,” Buttler added.Now, after their last meeting, Buttler has once again shown his admiration for the young prodigy by gifting him his bat, highlighting the growing respect Vaibhav has already earned from some of the biggest names in world cricket.
GT Outclassed RR
The Titans produced a complete all-round performance to record a commanding 77-run victory on 9 May 2026. First, GT posted a massive 229/4 in 20 overs, their highest total of the season.Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a brilliant 84 off 44 balls while Sai Sudharsan contributed 55 as the pair stitched together a dominant 118-run opening stand. Washington Sundar then ensured a strong finish with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls.In response, RR started aggressively with attacking cameos from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who smashed 36 off just 16 balls and Dhruv Jurel who added 24 off 10 deliveries. However, Rashid Khan completely changed the momentum with his spell in the middle as RR collapsed from a promising position to 152 all out in just 16.3 overs.Jason Holder also played a key role with the ball while a disciplined GT bowling unit ensured the chase never recovered from Rashid’s breakthroughs.
