Dhruv Jurel Shines as Rajasthan Royals Dominate Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 Eliminator
Rajasthan Royals' Stellar Performance
Mullanpur (Punjab) [India] - In a thrilling IPL 2026 Eliminator match on Wednesday, Rajasthan Royals (RR) wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel made headlines with a remarkable half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Jurel's impressive performance not only helped his team secure a crucial win but also allowed him to surpass the 500-run milestone for the season while batting from the No. 3 position or lower.
This achievement places him among an elite group of Royals players, becoming the third to reach this mark in a single IPL season, following Riyan Parag's 573 runs in 2024 and Sanju Samson's 531 runs in the same year. Jurel now boasts a total of 508 runs in 2026.
Additionally, Jurel's innings marked his sixth score of 50 or more runs this season, solidifying his status as one of the most reliable players for RR in this IPL campaign.
He joins a select few in the franchise's history for the most 50-plus scores in a single season, alongside Jos Buttler (8 in 2022), Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 in both 2023 and 2025), and his own tally of 6 in 2026.
In the match, the Royals showcased a powerful batting display, amassing a total of 243 runs for 8 wickets against Hyderabad, significantly aided by a sensational innings from 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Rajasthan got off to a blazing start, with Sooryavanshi taking charge during the powerplay. He aggressively attacked SRH captain Pat Cummins, scoring 23 runs in the third over, propelling RR to 45 without loss.
The young opener continued his onslaught, reaching a blistering half-century off just 16 balls, as Rajasthan surged to 63 without losing a wicket, finishing the powerplay at an impressive 80/0.
Sooryavanshi's extraordinary performance saw him dominate the SRH bowling attack, and he made history by breaking the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, surpassing Chris Gayle's previous record of 59 sixes.
He continued to accelerate before being dismissed in the eighth over by Praful Hinge, scoring a phenomenal 97 runs off just 29 balls, which included five fours and 12 sixes. He narrowly missed out on the fastest century in IPL history by just three runs, but his innings set Rajasthan up for a commanding position at 136/1 at the halfway mark.
Following his departure, RR maintained their momentum despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 29 runs off 29 balls before being dismissed by spinner Shivang Kumar in the 11th over, although Rajasthan quickly crossed the 150-run mark.
Jurel then revitalized the innings with a fierce counterattack against SRH's Cummins, scoring 17 runs in one over and reaching his half-century in just 20 balls during the 14th over. However, he was dismissed shortly after, contributing 50 runs off 21 balls, which included five fours and three sixes.
Rajasthan continued to score rapidly, reaching 200 runs in the 15th over and moving to 207/3. However, SRH fought back with Praful Hinge taking the wicket of skipper Riyan Parag, who scored 26 runs off 12 balls.
In the final overs, RR faced a flurry of wickets, with Donovan Ferreira (12), Dasun Shanaka (5), Jofra Archer (4), and Nandre Burger (1) falling cheaply. Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 12 as Rajasthan concluded their innings at a formidable 243/8.
For Hyderabad, Praful Hinge was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 54 runs, while Eshan Malinga (1/40), Shivang Kumar (1/19), and Nitish Reddy (1/12) also contributed with wickets.