Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took to social media on Wednesday, posting a three-word message on his Instagram account after his match-winning heroics in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-handed batter displayed a brilliant exhibition of six-hitting, scoring 97 runs off just 29 deliveries. However, he narrowly missed breaking Chris Gayle's long-standing IPL record of the fastest century, which remains at 30 balls.
Match Performance
After the match, the Rajasthan Royals opener shared pictures from his stunning knock on Instagram with the caption, 'hungry for more'. Sooryavanshi smashed five boundaries and 12 sixes during his astonishing innings, recording a strike rate of 334.48. His efforts propelled Rajasthan Royals to a massive total of 243 for 8, before they bowled out Hyderabad for 196 runs to secure a 47-run victory and a place in Qualifier 2.
Road Ahead
The Royals will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 for a spot in the final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Praise from Legends
Sooryavanshi's whirlwind knock drew widespread praise and awe. Former RCB star Chris Gayle posted on X: 'What a phenomenal player Vaibhav is. Great entertainment, young man! The IPL has a new six machine.' Incidentally, the teen sensation broke Gayle's long-standing record of most sixes in a single season during his brutal assault against SRH. Sooryavanshi now has 65 sixes, surpassing Gayle's tally of 59, which had stood for over a decade.
AB de Villiers, speaking on Jiostar's post-game show, praised Sooryavanshi's maturity and calmness: 'What stood out most about Vaibhav's innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and SRH kept trying different plans, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young.'
Orange Cap Holder
With 680 runs at a strike rate of 242.86, the current Orange Cap holder will be hoping to lead his team to the final for the first time since 2022 with another impactful knock in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
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