IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi touches Sunil Gavaskar’s legs then smashes 97 vs SRH – Watch

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s humble gesture with Sunil Gavaskar (Image: X) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting sensation, continues to win hearts on and off the field. While his fearless stroke play has taken IPL 2026 by storm, his humility and respect for the game’s legends has earned him admiration beyond cricket.Ahead of the Rajasthan Royals Eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the teenage prodigy was seen touching the legs of legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar during the pre-match training session, a gesture that quickly went viral among fans.The heartwarming moment took place when Gavaskar and former India coach Sanjay Bangar were doing a pre-match show on the ground alongside TV host Jatin Sapru. Sooryavanshi, who was warming up nearby, spotted the duo and immediately stopped training to take a walk and seek their blessings in traditional Indian style.However, the youngster did not stop at winning hearts before the match. Later in the evening, the Eliminator lit up with one of the most explosive innings of the IPL 2026 season.The Rajasthan Royals opener smashed a breathtaking 97 off just 29 deliveries, dismantling the SRH bowling attack and powering RR to a massive 243/8. Before the match, the teenager was seen meditating calmly on the field, but once the game started, he unleashed utter havoc on the SRH bowlers with 12 sixes and five fours.Sooryavanshi equaled Suresh Raina’s record for the fastest IPL play-off fifty in just 16 balls and also broke Chris Gayle’s record for sixes in a single IPL season. He just missed out on a century after falling on 97 while attempting another big shot.Jofra Archer then played the ball and dismissed Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan as SRH were bowled out for 196, ending their IPL 2026 season with defeat against Rajasthan Royals for the first time since 2023. Rajasthan Royals sealed a dominant 47-run win against Gujarat to advance to the Titan Qualifiers