Rajasthan Royals secured their spot in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 with a commanding 47-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Wednesday’s Eliminator match. The night’s proceedings were dominated by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose explosive 97 off just 29 balls laid the foundation for RR’s dominant performance.
Sooryavanshi’s Record-Breaking Knock Sets Tone
Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable 243 for eight, largely due to Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking innings. The young prodigy unleashed a barrage of 12 sixes, narrowly missing Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century, which stands at 30 balls. Sooryavanshi’s 97 came off a mere 29 deliveries.
From the outset, the left-hander attacked relentlessly, leaving Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins searching for answers. Sooryavanshi dispatched anything full down the ground and punished short balls with powerful cuts and pulls into the stands. He reached his half-century in just 16 balls, with eight of those deliveries clearing the boundary for six.
His opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, played a supportive role, scoring 29 off 29 balls. By the time Sooryavanshi was dismissed by Praful Hinge in the eighth over, Rajasthan Royals had already amassed 125 runs in just eight overs.
Record Sixes and Middle-Order Contributions
Sooryavanshi also etched his name in the record books by breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a single IPL season. He now holds the record with 65 sixes, surpassing Gayle’s previous tally of 59.
Following Sooryavanshi’s dismissal, Dhruv Jurel continued the momentum, adding a quick 50 off 21 balls. This marked his sixth half-century of the season. Rajasthan Royals appeared poised for an even larger total, reaching 180 for two in 13 overs.
However, Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to pull back in the death overs, taking five wickets for just 36 runs in the final five overs. This effort prevented RR from crossing the 260-run mark, though the damage was already inflicted.
Expensive Bowling Figures for SRH
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers faced a tough night. Pat Cummins ended with expensive figures of 0 for 64 in his four overs. Sakib Hussain conceded 49 runs in his three overs, while Praful Hinge took three wickets but proved costly, giving away 54 runs.
Eshan Malinga also struggled with his lines and lengths. Wrist spinner Shivang Kumar was a notable exception, impressing with his spell and taking the crucial wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
SRH’s Chase Falters Under Early Pressure
In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled to recover after losing key wickets during the powerplay. Jofra Archer delivered crucial blows early on, dismissing Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Travis Head. Archer’s final figures were 4-0-58-3.
Despite leaking runs later in the innings, Archer’s early wickets of SRH’s main threats proved decisive. Ishan Kishan scored 33 and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 38, briefly keeping SRH in the hunt. Salil Arora added 35 runs, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Heinrich Klaasen failed to make a significant impact, being trapped lbw by Yash Raj Punja while attempting an aggressive shot. The lower-middle order attempted a counterattack, but the steep target proved insurmountable.
RR Advances to Qualifier 2
Sunrisers Hyderabad were ultimately bowled out for 196 in 19.2 overs. Rajasthan Royals will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday, with the winner advancing to the IPL 2026 final.
