Rajasthan Royals Triumph Over Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 Eliminator

In a thrilling IPL 2026 Eliminator, Rajasthan Royals triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs, propelled by a spectacular 97 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His performance, along with Dhruv Jurel's contributions, led RR to a total of 243 runs. Despite a brief fightback from SRH, they were bowled out for 196. With this victory, RR advances to face Gujarat Titans for a chance to compete in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 09:13 IST

Rajasthan Royals Secure Victory

On Wednesday, Rajasthan Royals delivered a commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 Eliminator held at Mullanpur, edging closer to their second IPL title. The Royals, champions of the inaugural season, triumphed over Pat Cummins' SRH by a margin of 47 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines Again

The 15-year-old prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, was pivotal in RR's success, scoring an explosive 97 runs off just 29 deliveries, which included 12 sixes and five fours. His remarkable performance helped the team set a formidable total of 243/8 in this knockout match. Dhruv Jurel, who also contributed with a half-century, praised Sooryavanshi's confidence and self-belief.

Jurel Highlights Sooryavanshi's Approach

In a post-match press conference, Jurel remarked, "The best aspect of Vaibhav is his lack of planning; he practices extensively and trusts his abilities. He steps onto the field without any self-doubt." Sooryavanshi has now surpassed West Indies legend Chris Gayle for the most sixes in a single IPL season, totaling 65. Jurel elaborated on Sooryavanshi's unique focus, stating, "He concentrates solely on the ball, disregarding the bowler, which is his secret to success."

Jurel Discusses His Role in T20

Jurel has been a consistent performer for RR this season, amassing 508 runs, including 46 fours and 24 sixes. His quickfire 50 in the crucial match against SRH came off just 21 balls, featuring three sixes and five fours. Reflecting on the challenges of T20 cricket, Jurel noted, "Scoring 240 or 250 runs is no longer a guarantee for victory. I aspire to be a versatile player who can adapt to any batting position, whether it’s opening or batting lower down the order."

Jurel's Strategy for Batting Partnerships

He further explained his approach, stating, "My role is to support the openers when they are performing well and to build partnerships. If we can score from both ends, it increases our chances of maintaining wickets. I aim to ensure that the middle order has a solid platform to build upon in the later overs."

SRH Struggles in Their Chase

In their chase, SRH faltered early, finding themselves at 57/4 during the powerplay, despite a brief resurgence from Ishan Kishan, who scored 33 runs off 11 balls. Rajasthan's bowlers, Archer (3/58) and Burger (2/26), played crucial roles in dismantling SRH, who ultimately fell short at 196 runs in 19.2 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy (38 off 20 balls) and Salil Arora (35 off 20 balls) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Ravindra Jadeja (2/21) extinguished their hopes by taking both wickets.

Rajasthan Royals Move Forward

Sooryavanshi was awarded 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding innings. With this defeat, SRH has been eliminated from the tournament, while Rajasthan Royals will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday, vying for a place in the final against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru.