Rajasthan Royals Prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Channels MS Dhoni With Viral Helicopter Shot Ahead of SRH Clash
A practice session video featuring Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi executing a flawless helicopter shot has captured significant attention across social media platforms. The franchise posted the clip from their training camp in Jaipur as the team prepares to host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 36th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 season on April 25.
The Bihar Connection to a Signature Stroke
The Rajasthan Royals media team shared the footage with a caption stating, “Trust a Bihari to hit a helicopter shot.” This reference highlights the shared regional roots between the 15-year-old batsman and former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who famously popularized the shot and hails from Jharkhand, a state carved out of Bihar in 2000.
Sooryavanshi’s Rapid Rise in IPL 2026
Following his breakout 2025 season where he became the youngest debutant and centurion in IPL history, Sooryavanshi has maintained an aggressive strike rate in 2026. He recently established a new benchmark for scoring speed.
- Fastest to 500 Runs: Reached the 500-run milestone in just 227 balls.
- Previous Benchmark: Surpassed Glenn Maxwell’s notable 260-ball record for the same milestone.
Despite his rapid scoring pace, the teenager experienced a brief stall in his most recent match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 22. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for eight runs and played out his first career maiden over against left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan.
Match Preview: RR vs SRH at Sawai Mansingh Stadium
Rajasthan returns to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur for their first home game at this venue for the 2026 season. The Royals are seeking a turnaround after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 57 runs earlier this month.
Team Standings and Head-to-Head Statistics
Entering tonight’s fixture, both teams occupy spots in the top half of the BCCI tournament standings.
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Points | Table Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Royals | 7 | 5 | 10 | 3rd |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4th |
In their historical head-to-head matchups across 22 IPL meetings, Sunrisers Hyderabad maintains the overall advantage with 13 victories compared to Rajasthan’s nine.