Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines as Rajasthan Royals Defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals Triumph Over Sunrisers Hyderabad

In Mullanpur, Punjab, on May 28, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins praised the remarkable performance of Rajasthan Royals' young star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored an impressive 97 runs in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. Cummins acknowledged that the teenager's knack for capitalizing on even minor mistakes was pivotal in the match's outcome.

SRH faced a 47-run defeat against Rajasthan, which marked the end of their tournament journey.

Rajasthan showcased a strong all-around display, securing their spot in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans.

Post-match, Cummins highlighted Sooryavanshi's significant contribution at the top of the batting order, commending his poise under pressure.

"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played exceptionally well. You often feel limited in options. The pitch was excellent, but the margins are razor-thin. If you slightly miss your yorker, he capitalizes on it. So, credit to him," Cummins remarked.

He also mentioned that SRH had no regrets about opting to chase, even with Rajasthan setting a formidable target of 243/8.

"Not really. The pitch remained good even towards the end," he stated.

Reflecting on the chase, Cummins admitted that while the target was daunting, his team felt they were still in contention at the halfway mark.

"Chasing down 240 requires a few things to go right, but if there was ever a pitch and field to achieve it, this was it. We maintained the required rate for most of the innings but lost a few too many wickets at crucial moments," he explained.

Despite the defeat, Cummins praised his team's overall performance and the rise of young talent during the season.

"We ended up as a well-rounded team. Praful and Sakib were outstanding. The young players, who haven't had much experience, showed great potential. We are one of the youngest teams to reach the playoffs, which reflects the talent our coaching staff has discovered," he noted.

He also expressed satisfaction with SRH's season, highlighting their competitiveness throughout the tournament.

"Two playoff appearances in three years... the boys have been fantastic, maintaining a positive attitude all year. They seem to have truly enjoyed their cricket," he added.

Batting first, Rajasthan Royals amassed a staggering 243/8, driven by a phenomenal 29-ball 97 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The young talent dominated the SRH bowling attack with 12 sixes and five fours, racing to a rapid half-century before narrowly missing out on a record IPL century. Dhruv Jurel also played a vital role, scoring a brisk 50 to keep the momentum going.

In response, SRH struggled early on, losing four wickets during the powerplay despite a brief resurgence from Ishan Kishan. Although Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora attempted to stabilize the innings, the chase never fully recovered.

Jofra Archer (3/58) and Nandre Burger (2/26) were instrumental in RR's bowling attack, consistently applying pressure on SRH.

Ultimately, SRH was bowled out for 196 in 19.2 overs, granting Rajasthan a convincing victory and concluding Hyderabad's campaign in the tournament.