Sooryavanshi scored a blistering 43 off 16 balls to help RR chase down 223 runs against PBKS.
Sooryavanshi’s latest effort saw him reclaim the Orange Cap, taking his tally to 400 runs from nine innings at an average of 44.44 and a strike rate of 238.09, including one hundred and two half-centuries.
After the game, former India spinner Murali Kartik heaped praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, noting the 15-year-old prodigy's exceptional power-hitting, which he suggested even Brian Lara would envy.
Kartik highlighted Sooryavanshi’s high backlift, still head, and ability to "pack a punch" rather than just playing free-flowing strokes.
“Brian Lara would have been pleased had he had Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s power-hitting. He was a genius, but his backlift was slightly different. His was high as well, but when Sooryavanshi brings the bat down, he generates a lot of power. His head is also so still. Most of his shots are not free-flowing or flourishing. He just packs a punch,” Kartik said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
According to Kartik, Sooryavanshi's fearlessness is reminiscent of Virender Sehwag, as the youngster doesn’t get overawed by high-profile bowlers.
“The most important thing is that he’s young. Hand-eye coordination is amazing. In terms of fearlessness, he is a lot like Viru [Sehwag]. He was the same. The bigger the bowler, the more Sehwag wanted to hit him into space. This kid is not telling us, but from inside he must go like Hazlewood, Bumrah, Sunil Narine, I will smash them all,” Kartik remarked.
RR’s six-wicket win over PBKS was driven by an explosive start from Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27), followed by a 77-run stand between Donovan Ferreira (52* off 26) and Shubham Dubey (31* off 12).
This was Royals' sixth win in nine games this season. Currently holding third spot in the team standings, they will next face Delhi Capitals on May 1 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.