Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines with Century in IPL Match Against SRH
Sooryavanshi's Remarkable Performance
In a stunning display of skill and determination, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at just 15 years old, scored his second IPL century during the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday (April 25). He reached the century milestone in a mere 36 balls, showcasing his talent by hitting four sixes off Praful Hinge in the very first over, marking a historic achievement as the first player to do so in an IPL innings opener. This match was particularly significant for Sooryavanshi, as he had previously been dismissed for a golden duck by Hinge in their earlier encounter, where Hinge made his IPL debut and set a record by taking three wickets in his first over.
After the match, Sooryavanshi addressed some negative comments he had encountered, stating that while they affected him, he preferred to respond through his performance on the field. He shared, “I went with a clear plan against the bowler. After getting out in the last match, I checked my phone and saw a lot of things. I usually don’t pay attention to those comments, but personal remarks do impact me a bit,” during a conversation with RR's team manager, Romi Bhinder.
Hinge, reflecting on his strategy, mentioned that he had informed his teammates about his plan to bowl a bouncer to dismiss Sooryavanshi, crediting their bowling coach for the tactical approach.
Despite Sooryavanshi's impressive century, the Royals fell short, losing the match by five wickets as SRH successfully chased down the target of 229 with nine balls remaining. In their previous encounter, SRH had also triumphed by 57 runs.
Injury Concerns for Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Injury Threat
Sooryavanshi is currently dealing with a hamstring issue that forced him to leave the field during SRH's innings. He remains optimistic about his recovery, stating, “It's fine now. I'm feeling better. I don’t know how it happened; my foot got stuck. I had an existing ankle problem, and to avoid straining it, I pulled my hamstring. But I believe I will be fit for the next match.”
The Rajasthan Royals are set to face the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who are currently leading the table, on Tuesday (April 28) in Jaipur. As it stands, the Royals are fourth in the standings with 10 points from five victories in eight matches. Sooryavanshi has had an outstanding season, ranking as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 357 runs in eight games, averaging 44.62 and boasting an impressive strike rate of 234.86, including two centuries.