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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi turns Jaipur into a theatre of chaos, but agonisingly misses out on century vs LSG

Despite the dismissal and the heartbreak of missing out on another hundred, the Jaipur crowd rose to their feet as Sooryavanshi walked back to the pavilion

Updated on: May 19, 2026, 23:21:30 IST
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Even at just 15, by the towering standards he has already set for himself, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi endured the most un-Sooryavanshi start on Tuesday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. At one stage in the chase, he was crawling on 11 off 12 balls. But he soon turned that into a 23-ball fifty — a measured knock by his standards, in fact the slowest fifty of his IPL career so far. What followed was absolute mayhem at a venue where he had already scored both his previous IPL hundreds. A third century looked inevitable, only for him to fall agonisingly short on 93.

Rajasthan Royals' Indian cricket player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur (AFP)
Rajasthan Royals' Indian cricket player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur (AFP)

As surprising as it may sound, when Rajasthan Royals reached the 50-run mark in just 26 balls while chasing 221 at home, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who had blasted 38 of those runs off just 18 balls, taking Mohsin Khan and Akash Singh apart. Sooryavanshi, who waited six balls to find his first boundary, was scoring at less than a run-a-ball at that stage, managing just five runs from his first eight deliveries.

RR vs LSG LIVE Score, IPL 2026

It was only on the penultimate ball of the fifth over that he finally broke free, deciding enough was enough, as he leaned back and smashed a fuller delivery outside off for a six over deep extra-cover.

Prince Yadav, fresh off his India call-up earlier in the day, then faced Sooryavanshi’s wrath as the opener hammered a six and two fours in the final over of the powerplay to restore normalcy — 25 off 16 balls. Those boundaries also helped him complete 500 runs this season, making him the youngest batter ever to achieve the feat, surpassing Rishabh Pant’s record from 2018.

Sooryavanshi did not face another delivery for the next two overs, during which Jaiswal departed just short of his fifty. And although Lucknow Super Giants sensed an opening, a storm was about to arrive.

Off the next 25 balls he faced, the prodigy smashed four boundaries and eight sixes — 64 runs in total — as he raced from his fifty towards another century. The brutality had even Sunil Gavaskar raving in the commentary box. It included a 26-run over against Akash Singh and a 29-run over against Mayank Yadav.

Eventually, the left-handed batter, who was picked in the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series after the IPL season, was undone by a slower bouncer from Mohsin Khan as his stunning knock ended on 93 off just 38 balls.

But despite the dismissal and the heartbreak of missing out on another hundred, the Jaipur crowd rose to their feet as he walked back to the pavilion. So did his RR teammates. Even LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and head coach Justin Langer, putting rivalry aside, applauded the teenager’s breathtaking innings.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Aratrick Mondal

    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.Read More

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