“I Play the Ball, Not the Bowler”: 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Destroys RCB Attack in Rajasthan Royals Victory
Fifteen-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his high-scoring run in the Indian Premier League, smashing 78 runs off just 26 deliveries to lead the Rajasthan Royals to a decisive six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Following a standout performance against Jasprit Bumrah earlier in the tournament, the teenager confidently took on Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, hitting him for three boundaries and a six in four consecutive deliveries to set the tone for the run chase.
Rajasthan Royals Chase Down 202
The Royals successfully chased RCB’s total of 201 for 8, reaching the target with two full overs to spare. Sooryavanshi anchored a 108-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten on 81. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja closed out the innings with a rapid 24 not out.
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 201/8 (20 overs) | Rajat Patidar (63), Venkatesh Iyer (Late runs) |
| Rajasthan Royals | 202/4 (18 overs) | Dhruv Jurel (81*), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (78) |
Focusing on Fundamentals
During the post-match presentation, Sooryavanshi attributed his aggressive stroke play to maintaining a simple mindset at the crease rather than over-analyzing the opposition’s international experience.
“I try to execute what I practice and back my natural game,” Sooryavanshi said. “Yes, at the back of your mind, you know who the bowler is, but you play the ball, not the bowler.”
The innings propelled Sooryavanshi to the top of the Orange Cap standings, bringing his season total to 200 runs across four matches.
- Current Orange Cap Total: 200 runs
- Matches Played: 4
- Latest Strike Rate: 300.00 (78 off 26 balls)
Managing Early Career Success
Despite securing the Orange Cap and guiding his team to a fourth consecutive win, the teenager expressed a desire to bat deeper into the innings. He noted that had he stayed at the crease longer, he could have added another 20 runs to further ease the pressure on the middle order.
Sooryavanshi credits his grounded approach to his father, Sanjiv, and Rajasthan Royals support staff member Romi Bhinder. They consistently advise him to view his career as a long journey and maintain strict focus strictly on his game.
The result extends the Rajasthan Royals’ unbeaten streak to four matches. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered their first defeat of the season despite a 63-run knock from captain Rajat Patidar and early breakthroughs from RR bowlers Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi that initially kept the scoring rate in check.