New Delhi: Hardik Pandya praised teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless batting display after Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians in a rain shortened match of the Indian Premier League 2026.
Pandya described the youngster’s performance as remarkable, noting that it was impressive to watch such a young player perform with confidence on a big stage. He said the team had discussed Sooryavanshi during their preparations but still found his fearless approach striking once the match began.
Rajasthan Royals posted a commanding 150 for 3 in 11 overs after being asked to bat first. The innings was powered by a brilliant unbeaten knock from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 77 off just 32 deliveries, while Sooryavanshi provided explosive support with a rapid 39.
The teenage batter showed remarkable composure while taking on some of the most experienced bowlers in the opposition attack. He confidently attacked Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, smashing him for consecutive sixes, including a towering hit over deep square leg.
Sooryavanshi continued his aggressive approach against Shardul Thakur as well, striking two sixes and a boundary before his innings was eventually ended. His attacking cameo came to a close when Tilak Varma completed a sharp catch in the deep.
Mumbai Indians managed to regain some control through the bowling efforts of Allah Ghazanfar, who picked up two wickets. He dismissed Dhruv Jurel leg before wicket and later removed Riyan Parag with a catch at long on.
Despite those setbacks, Jaiswal maintained his dominance throughout the innings. He reached his half century in just 23 balls and finished the innings strongly to guide Rajasthan Royals to a competitive total.
With this performance, Jaiswal has emerged as the leading run scorer in the tournament so far, accumulating 170 runs from three matches. Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi has made an impressive start to the season with 122 runs in three games at an average above 40 and a striking rate close to 249, highlighting his rapid rise as one of the most exciting young talents in the league.
