Not just batting, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's sanskar stands out in IPL Eliminator vs SRH

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s incredible batting wasn’t the only thing that caught the eye in Rajasthan Royals’ match against SunRisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. While the 15-year-old prodigy left fans in awe of one of the most devastating batting performances in the Indian Premier League, a heartwarming pre-match moment stole the show, proving the youngster’s values are as impressive as his pull-up game.

Ahead of the IPL Eliminator, Sooryavanshi drew some hilarious but deeply respectful reactions on the sidelines. Midway through the pre-match warm-up, the teenager rushed into the broadcast area to touch the feet of batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and former India coach Sanjay Bangar, who were hosting the pre-match show.

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The presentation of traditional Indian values caught the presenters completely unprepared. After paying his respects to the veterans, Sooryavanshi turned his head towards TV host Jatin Sapru. Spooked, Sapru, fearing he would be next in line for the traditional blessing, cheerfully bounced away from his mark to avoid the 15-year-old touching his feet, bringing a cheerful and healthy energy to an otherwise tense knockout night.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rushed to touch the feet of Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Bangar who were putting on a pre-match show.

Sooryavanshi then turns his head to Jatin Sapru, who jumps off his mark to avoid the 15-year-old

Follow #SRHvsRR Live: pic.twitter.com/54IEKJI6dJ— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) May 27, 2026

VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI EXHIBITION AT MULLANPUR

However, once the match started, the respect ended and the carnage began.

Sooryavanshi produced one of the most devastating knocks in the history of the IPL and tore apart the SRH bowling unit which claimed to have several tactical plans in place for him. The left-hander smashed a breathtaking 97 runs off just 29 balls and reached his half-century in just 16 deliveries.

His explosive innings was punctuated by 12 massive sixes – the most by an Indian batsman in a single IPL match. In the process, the young opener broke Chris Gayle’s 2012 long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season. He also rewrote the record books when he finished the season with 490 overs, surpassing David Warner’s 2016 record of 467.

SACHIN TENDULKAR REACTS TO VAIBHAV’S INNINGS

Although he fell just three runs short of the fastest century in IPL history when he got to the top in the eighth game, his performance earned him the utmost praise from legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who praised the teenager’s extraordinary skills and fearlessness on the big stage.

“Vaibhava Sooryavanshi’s bat swing was excellent. Even more remarkable is how beautifully he clears his front foot to create space for leg balls. This freedom allows him to play the way he plays. That innings was nothing short of spectacular,” Sachin said on X.

By the time Sooryavanshi departed, he had pushed Rajasthan to a mammoth 125/1 in just eight overs, leaving SRH completely shell-shocked. RR later dispatched 243 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, setting a difficult target for the SRH side.

In a night defined by record breaking boundaries, it was the perfect blend of modern power hitting and deep-rooted cultural values that truly defined the rise of India’s newest cricket sensation.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

27 May 2026 22:06 IST