Pat Cummins Hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as Rising Star After IPL Victory

In a thrilling IPL 2026 match, Pat Cummins, captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, praised young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as his 'new favorite player' after a stellar performance against Rajasthan Royals. Sooryavanshi's aggressive batting led to a remarkable 103 runs off 37 balls, contributing significantly to SRH's successful chase of 229 runs. Cummins highlighted the young talent's power-hitting ability, which poses challenges for bowlers. The match showcased a strong batting display from both teams, with SRH ultimately securing a five-wicket victory. Read on for more details about this exciting encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 26, 2026, 10:33 IST

Cummins Praises Young Talent

Pat Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has expressed admiration for the young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, labeling him an exciting prospect and his 'new favorite player' following a thrilling IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). During the post-match press conference after SRH's convincing five-wicket victory, Cummins highlighted Sooryavanshi's aggressive batting style and his knack for dominating bowlers early in his career. He noted that the young player's power-hitting poses a significant challenge for bowlers, compelling them to maintain precision in their deliveries.

'My New Favorite Player'

"I believe he’s my new favorite player. He strikes the ball with such force; it’s a joy to watch. Bowlers must be on point because if they aren’t, the ball is going a long way," Cummins remarked.

Sooryavanshi's bold approach has quickly established him as one of the standout young talents in the tournament, earning accolades from both opponents and analysts. His capacity to boost the scoring rate and disrupt bowling strategies has introduced a fresh dynamic to Rajasthan's batting lineup this season.

Impressive Start to Career

The seasoned fast bowler further acknowledged Sooryavanshi's remarkable start in his career, attributing his attention-grabbing style to his fearless gameplay. "He’s had an excellent beginning to his career, and I admire his approach; he takes the game to the opposition," he added.

SRH Triumphs in High-Scoring Encounter

Rajasthan Royals set a formidable target of 228/6, bolstered by an outstanding 103 runs off just 37 balls from Sooryavanshi and a solid 51 runs from Jurel off 35 deliveries. Donovan Ferreira also contributed with a brisk 33 runs from 16 balls towards the end of the innings.

In response, SRH faced an early setback with the loss of Travis Head but bounced back strongly as Ishan Kishan (74 runs off 31 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (57 runs off 29 balls) forged a 132-run partnership, laying the foundation for the chase. Despite losing a few wickets towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen (29 runs) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36 runs) kept the required run rate manageable, allowing SRH to successfully chase down the target in 18.3 overs.