Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Video grab) NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be one of the most fascinating stories of IPL 2026 – a 15-year-old boy who watches cartoons before matches and then goes on to break records on the big stage.A subdued outing with the bat could not stop the teenage sensation from script history as Rajasthan Royals beat Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi managed just 8 off 11 balls but his short stay was enough to get his name in the record books.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!At just 15 years and 26 days, he became the youngest player ever to reach 500 IPL runs, surpassing Prithvi Shaw. He also became the fastest to the milestone in the number of balls he faced, getting there in just 227 deliveries – bettering Glenn Maxwell’s previous mark.Despite the slim output, Sooryavanshi remains Rajasthan Royals’ top scorer this season with 254 runs. Remarkably, he has already smashed two half-centuries, both of which came off just 15 balls – making them the joint third-fastest fifties in IPL history.Cartoon interviews, cricket dominanceHowever, it was his light-hearted post-match interaction that really captured the imagination of fans. When asked about his mindset at an age when most children are glued to cartoons, Sooryavanshi responded with disarming honesty.“There is nothing going on in my mind. Even today, I watch cartoons before every game, but I also focus on the game,” he said with a smile.The innocence of the answer quickly went viral and perfectly captured the duality of a teenager balancing childhood habits and elite-level cricket.And despite the quiet knock in Lucknow, the youngster is already looking ahead with confidence.“He will do better in the next match. He won 2 points and will advance to the playoffs,” he added.WATCH:Ravindra Jadeja leads charge RRRavindra Jadeja anchored the win for Rajasthan Royals with a brilliant all-round performance. His unbeaten 43 and key wicket earned him the Man of the Match award.RR captain Riyan Parag admitted that his side could have come close to 180 but the bowlers led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger ensured that the total was more than enough.The win lifted Rajasthan Royals to second place in the table, but once again it was their cartoon-loving teenage prodigy who stole the show.
