‘This is not IPL’: RR, RCB, DC take cheeky jibe as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashes record 11-ball fifty in A final in Sri Lanka

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided another breathtaking reminder of his extraordinary talent as the 15-year-old Indian batting sensation smashed a record-breaking 94 off just 29 balls against Sri Lanka A in the Tri-Nation final in Dambulla on Sunday.His blistering knock was topped off with an 11-ball fifty – the fastest in List A cricket – as India A beat Sri Lanka A by 66 runs to lift the title. Sooryavanshi’s innings was pure bloodshed right from the start, with his first 11 balls showing: 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6.His 94-run blitz included 10 fours and eight sixes, setting the tone for India A’s massive 377/9 before Sri Lanka A were restricted to 311 in 47.1 overs.

The “This is not IPL” jibe sparks a viral response

The knock brought added intensity after the previous fierce previous meeting between the two sides where Sri Lanka A defeated India A in the Super Over and the tension spilled over after the match.During that contest, Sooryavanshi was involved in a heated exchange, with the Sri Lankan player reportedly telling him, “This is not the IPL” after India’s A Super Over defeat.On Sunday, the IPL franchises were quick to revive the moment as the teenager overturned the story in spectacular fashion. Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals all celebrated the 11-ball fifty on social media, conspicuously repeating the phrase “This is not the IPL” while celebrating Sooryavanshi’s explosive response.The viral reaction turned the phrase into a symbol of redemption, with fans and franchises alike celebrating the teenager’s fearless attitude on the big stage.

No pressure, just pure destruction

Despite the previous controversy and mixed run in the tri-series, Sooryavanshi insisted that he played without pressure and only focused on execution.“I didn’t think about anything. I just wanted to do what I planned,” he said after being named Man of the Match.The teenager, who is set for a potential India T20 debut later this month, credited his coaches for helping him reset after inconsistent outings earlier in the series.

Record talent keeps rising

Sooryavanshi’s 11-ball half-century surpassed the previous List A record of 12 balls held by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne since 2005, underscoring the extent of his achievement.His knock also saw him narrowly miss out on the record for the fastest List A century when he fell for 94 while attempting another big hit, caught mid-on in the ninth over.From dominating the IPL stages at the start of the year to currently tearing apart bowling attacks in international youth cricket, Sooryavanshi continues to build a reputation as one of India’s most explosive young batsmen.