Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left distraught on Sunday after the Rajasthan Royals suffered their second defeat in IPL 2026. The 2008 champions went down to the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens by four wickets, missing the chance to climb to the top of the points table.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left emotional after RR lost to KKR
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The 15-year-old scored a brisk 28-ball 46, laced with six boundaries and two sixes, on a tricky surface. However, a poor middle-order effort saw Rajasthan slip to 155 for nine in 20 overs.
Kolkata endured a disastrous start to the chase, losing both openers for ducks inside two overs, before a middle-order wobble left them in trouble. But riding on an early reprieve, vice-captain Rinku Singh anchored the innings with a composed 34-ball 53, guiding the hosts to their first win of the season with two balls to spare.
After the defeat, Sooryavanshi was spotted in tears behind the sightscreen, visibly shaken before being consoled by a KKR support staff member. Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder then stepped in and offered the teenager his phone, possibly to call home. Though initially reluctant, Sooryavanshi eventually accepted and was seen speaking on it.
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After the defeat, Sooryavanshi was spotted in tears behind the sightscreen, visibly shaken before being consoled by a KKR support staff member. Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder then stepped in and offered the teenager his phone, possibly to call home. Though initially reluctant, Sooryavanshi eventually accepted and was seen speaking on it.
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In moments like these, it is often family that offers the greatest comfort, and Sooryavanshi perhaps found some solace in their words.
Rajasthan are currently in the third position in the points table, with four wins in six games thus far in the season. They will play their next game against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on April 22.
Sooryavanshi has been central to Rajasthan’s impressive run this season. While there were concerns around a potential second-season slump, the young Bihar batter has continued to deliver, living up to the expectations that have followed him since his IPL debut last year.
He has now scored 246 runs and sits fourth in the run charts, firmly in contention for the Orange Cap. That run tally includes two sixes against Jasprit Bumrah and a 19-run over against Josh Hazlewood, which led to speculation that BCCI selectors consider him ready for international cricket. Going by a PTI report published last week, he is expected to make his T20I debut for India after the IPL 2026 season.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Vaibhav Sooryavanshi resists Romi Bhinder’s gesture after loss to KKR, then accepts phone call back home
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