IPL Play of the Day: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 2.0 stuns LSG with controlled aggression

When it comes to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, it’s usually all about seeing the ball and hitting it hard. If the delivery falls in his zone, he rarely hesitates to swing aggressively. It’s the same fearless approach that recently earned the 15-year-old a place in the India A team for the tour of Sri Lanka. But on Tuesday, he revealed another side to his batting that showed he has the potential to develop into a much more versatile cricketer.

At first glance, the scoreboard may not suggest much of a difference considering he smashed 93 runs off just 38 balls with 10 sixes against Lucknow Super Giants. Yes, he was still batting at a staggering 244.74, but his innings had two very different phases. In his first 10 balls, Sooryavanshi scored just five runs, showing unusual patience, while Yashasvi Jaiswal struck freely at the other end with Rajasthan Royals chasing 221.

IPL 2026, RR vs LSG: Highlights | Scorecard

Such a cautious start was completely out of the question for the batsman, who has already registered three fifteen-hundred runs this season. However, once he settled in and understood both the conditions and the attack on the pins, he shifted gears effortlessly and became unstoppable. In the end, Sooryavanshi deservedly took home the Man of the Match award. If Rajasthan are now favorites to secure the fourth spot in the playoffsmuch of the credit goes to their teenage sensation.

HOW SOORYAVANSHI TOOK LUCKNOW

Sooryavanshi was once again the difference between the two teams and showed why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket. He produced another stunning display of power hitting as he completely dismantled the Lucknow bowling attack, this time with a combination of controlled aggression and calculated hitting. Although he started cautiously, the moment he settled in, the innings turned into a one-sided attack.

The youngster was particularly brutal against the pace duo of Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, handling their fast pace with remarkable ease. Mayank’s speed made no difference as Sooryavanshi repeatedly picked up the length early and dropped him over the ropes. The decisive moment came in the 12th over when he bowled to Mayank, who conceded 29 runs, which completely tilted the chase in Rajasthan’s favor and broke Lucknow’s resistance.

Prince Yadav suffered a similar fate when Sooryavanshi fearlessly bowled him through an offside play. Short balls disappeared over mid-wicket, while fuller deliveries were effortlessly carried into the stands. The left-hander combined power with audacity, making even quality deliveries look ordinary.

He eventually raced to his fifty off 23 balls, remarkably his slowest half-century of the season. This stat alone shows the level of destruction he caused during the tournament. Sooryavanshi narrowly missed out on a century but has now moved Rajasthan Royals ever closer to making it to the playoffs.

NO RUSH OF THINKING

After the match, Sooryavanshi said he wanted to learn the art of patience, which explained his decision to take his time at the start of the innings. There was a clear sense of maturity in his words as he talked about batting deep and supporting his partner during the chase.

“I thought I shouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to start today, I should take some time and if I bat for a longer time, it will help the batsman at the other end as well,” Sooryavanshi said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Sooryavanshi added that he had enough confidence in his game to step up with the big shots later, even after a slow start. “That was the mindset. I know I can hit two or three boundaries or sixes at any time, so I can take a bit more time and not rush too much and try to see the game through,” added Sooryavanshi.

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi’s work is far from over. The Royals are currently on 14 points, which still doesn’t guarantee them a playoff berth. However, if they beat Mumbai Indians in their last league match, they will seal a place in the top four.

For Sooryavanshi, if he continues to show the same maturity and composure he showed against the Super Giants, there’s no telling how far he can go in his career.

Recent performances have already established Sooryavanshi as one of the most exciting young players in the tournament and his ability to combine patience with an explosive pull game only adds another dimension to his game.

If he continues to develop at this rate, it may not be long before Sooryavanshi is seen wearing the Indian jersey and making an impact far beyond the IPL.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

20 May 2026 07:08 IST