“Played pretty well”: Pat Cummins left impressed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explo – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines as Rajasthan Royals Eliminate SRH in IPL 2026
A Masterclass in Aggression at New Chandigarh
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh bore witness to a spectacular display of batting firepower during the 72nd match of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026. In the high-pressure Eliminator clash between the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), it was the Royals who seized control early and never looked back, securing a decisive 47-run victory to move forward to Qualifier 2.
The Strategic Setup
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to field, hoping to utilize the conditions by introducing Praful Hinge into the side. The Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, brought in the experienced Ravindra Jadeja to bolster their ranks. With the weight of a knockout game looming, both teams knew that the loser would be sent home, while the victor would earn a date with the Gujarat Titans.
Sooryavanshi’s Record-Breaking Blitz
The match turned decisively in the first innings thanks to an extraordinary effort from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, the duo dismantled the SRH bowling attack, racking up 80 runs in the powerplay alone. Sooryavanshi, in particular, was in an unforgiving mood, reaching his half-century in just 16 deliveries. His innings of 97 runs off a mere 29 balls was a masterclass in clean hitting, effectively taking the game away from the Orange Army before they could settle into a rhythm.
The opening stand of 125 runs provided the perfect platform for the Royals. While Sooryavanshi fell just short of a well-deserved century, his momentum was carried forward by Dhruv Jurel, who contributed a composed half-century, and Riyan Parag, who added a quick-fire 26 off 11 balls. Although the Royals saw a late-innings collapse—scoring only 36/5 in the final five overs—they managed to post a formidable total of 243/8.
The SRH Chase: A Desperate Fight
Chasing a mammoth target of 244, the Sunrisers Hyderabad needed a perfect start but received the exact opposite. Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck in the opening over, setting a tone of instability. Ishan Kishan attempted to counter-attack with a rapid 33 off 11 balls, and Travis Head added 17, but the wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. By the 10th over, the SRH dugout was already half-empty, signaling an uphill battle that grew steeper by the minute.
A brief glimmer of hope emerged through a 56-run partnership between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora. However, once Arora departed for 38 off 20, the resistance faltered. Pat Cummins fell shortly after, and despite a late fighting effort from Shivang Kumar, the Sunrisers were eventually bundled out for 196 runs.
Reflections from the Captain
Following the conclusion of the match, Pat Cummins displayed grace in defeat, highlighting the quality of the opposition. When asked about Sooryavanshi’s performance, Cummins remarked, “He played pretty well. It was a really good pitch, and even towards the end, it remained a pretty good wicket.”
The SRH skipper also took the time to reflect on his team’s journey throughout the season. “It’s great as a captain to see that. We were one of the youngest teams to make it to the playoffs. We lost too many wickets at the wrong time while chasing 240. We were one tiny bit away from being in the top two, but I can’t ask for anything more from the boys,” Cummins concluded.
As the Rajasthan Royals prepare to face the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, the cricket world will undoubtedly keep a close eye on the form of young stars like Sooryavanshi, who have redefined the boundaries of modern T20 batting throughout this tournament.
