Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s dream IPL 2026 campaign came to an emotional end on Friday night as Rajasthan Royals were knocked out of the tournament following a defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at Mullanpur. While the Royals’ title hopes ended in heartbreak, the Gujarat Titans secured their place in the IPL 2026 final, where they will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The disappointment was evident after the match, with a visibly emotional Sooryavanshi seen sitting quietly in the Rajasthan Royals dugout. The young batting sensation received words of comfort from support staff as the reality of RR’s exit began to sink in.
Despite the defeat, Sooryavanshi once again showcased why he has been the biggest breakout star of the season. The 15-year-old produced another remarkable innings, falling agonisingly short of a century after being dismissed for 96. It was the third time this season that he had been dismissed in the nineties, highlighting both his consistency and his ability to dominate some of the best bowling attacks in the competition.
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However, Rajasthan’s impressive total was ultimately overshadowed by a sensational chase from the Gujarat Titans. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a magnificent century, guiding his side to a comfortable seven-wicket victory and a spot in the title clash.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was crying after the match , he gave his everything but still couldn’t get his team over the line , after all he’s just a teenage kid and the team was relying on him. take a bow Vaibhav you did great 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/7pWXl5YKl3
— Green (@thecamgreen) May 30, 2026
While the Royals’ journey has ended, Sooryavanshi leaves the tournament with his reputation significantly enhanced. In a competition featuring some of the world’s best T20 players, the teenager emerged as one of the standout performers of IPL 2026.
The numbers behind his season are extraordinary. Sooryavanshi finished the campaign with 776 runs and an incredible strike rate of 237.31, combining fearless aggression with remarkable consistency. His tally of 72 sixes is now the highest ever recorded by a batter in a single IPL season, comfortably ahead of the competition.
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The young opener also ended the season with one century and three scores in the nineties, underlining a breakthrough campaign that has firmly established him as one of Indian cricket’s most exciting talents and a future superstar of the game.
