Rajasthan Royals' (RR) 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his sensational run in IPL 2026 by tearing into the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowling attack in Guwahati on Friday (April 10).
The southpaw slammed 78 off 26 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes to help his team overhaul the stiff target of 202 with six wickets and 12 deliveries to spare. He brought up his half-century in just 15 balls for the second time this season.
Sooryavanshi brought up his half-century in just 15 balls, registering the joint third-fastest fifty in the league’s history. Remarkably, this was the second time he achieved a 15-ball fifty in the ongoing IPL, having previously done so against CSK.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, the teenage sensation explained why he's not overawed by bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, saying his focus is always on playing the ball rather than the bowler.
“I just try to do what I do in practice, do the same, don't try anything extra and back my natural game,” Sooryavanshi said after receiving the Player-of-the-Match award.
“At the back of the mind it stays that who is bowling, but I was trying to play the ball, not look at the bowler, and play the ball according to what it is, play my game,” he added.
The youngster mentioned his father, coaches, and his team guardian, Romi Sir (RR team manager Romi Bhinder), as his mentors.
“Papa is one and also my coaches, here my guardian is Romi sir. So all these people keep telling me that the journey is very long, this has just started, so you have to focus on your process and your work, you have to focus on the game without looking here and there,” Vaibhav replied when asked who all are guiding him right now.
Sooryavanshi declined to celebrate his success against RCB, noting the team had to sleep early for an early flight the next day.
“Today we have to sleep a little early because we have to leave early tomorrow, we have an early flight, so we have to leave early,” he remarked.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expressed disappointment at getting out, saying that if he stays longer, the team can finish chases earlier or add 10-20 more runs to the total.
“If I stay on the wicket, then another 10-20 runs can be made, if we are chasing the target, then we can finish it two overs earlier, or if we set the target, then 10-20 runs can be made more. So I regret that if I am out by playing a loose shot, then the team is going minus, so I just get a little upset that I could have played longer,” he concluded.
