Another day, another Vaibhav Sooryavanshi storm in the IPL as RCB blown off course

Brief Score: Rajasthan Royals (202/4 in 18 overs) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (201/8 in 20 overs) by six wickets in Guwahati. Scorecard | Highlights

It's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's world; the Indian Premier League is merely operating in it. The 15-year-old prodigy from Samastipur is fast making a habit of dismantling opposition attacks, ruthlessly targeting their premier bowlers and making a mockery of both numbers and norms.

In Guwahati on Friday, the Rajasthan Royals superstar plundered 78 off just 26 balls – reaching his half-century in a blistering 15 deliveries – to make light work of a 202-run chase. On a surface that remained sporting after pre-match rain, every other batter appeared a mere mortal; Vaibhav was operating on a different plane entirely.

To be fair, Dhruv Jurel did far more than simply play a supporting role. Rajasthan's industrious wicketkeeper operated in fifth gear himself, striking an unbeaten 81 from 43 balls. It was Jurel who stood firm to navigate a minor middle-order stumble, ensuring the Royals crossed the line as early as the 18th over. Yet, the evening's headline act remained Sooryavanshi, reigniting the inevitable discourse: How good can this boy be? How gifted is he? Is it time to fast-track him to the national side?

Earlier, RCB had recovered from a precarious 94 for 6 to post 201 for 8, courtesy of a fine rescue act from Rajat Patidar and a late cameo from Venkatesh Iyer. Iyer was deployed as an Impact Player as early as the first innings-a move that left RCB a bowler short but was perhaps a necessity to avoid a sub-par total. In hindsight, even 201 felt insufficient once Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal went full tilt in the powerplay.

Vaibhav attacked from the very first delivery and refused to relent, recording his second 15-ball fifty in just four matches this season. The variety of the assault was mesmerising: bowl short, and he pulled you; bowl full, and he drove you; attempt a slower ball, and he simply waited, depositing it deep into the stands.

While the Barsapara Stadium was awash with Virat Kohli shirts-Guwahati being the Royals' secondary home-the crowd's allegiance shifted the moment Vaibhav began his work. As he unfurled those jaw-dropping, audacious strokes, the spectators, much like the rest of the cricketing world, were utterly hooked.

Only days ago, he had dispatched Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes in their first encounter. On Friday, he reiterated his disdain for reputations by looting 18 runs from a single Josh Hazlewood over, propelling Rajasthan to a record powerplay total of 97.

It is one thing to take down Bumrah in a duel reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary assault on Abdul Qadir in Peshawar, a feat of pure, high-octane audacity. Yet, it is quite another to repeat the trick against Josh Hazlewood, a master of the powerplay who typically suffocates the world's best with his relentless Test-match lengths and metronomic discipline.

Vaibhav proved he can dismantle the very best, and not merely through brute force. When Bhuvneshwar Kumar tested him with the moving ball, the youngster showed remarkable composure. Even against Hazlewood, whose standing he refused to respect, the assault was calculated, clinical, and quite brilliant.

VAIBHAV TAKES DOWN HAZLEWOOD, BHUVI

Hazlewood began with his customary hard length and a tight line for his first delivery to the teenage sensation. However, Vaibhav was equal to it, cutting him authoritatively off the back foot and sending the ball racing past the point fielder. The second boundary was lofted elegantly over mid-on, as Vaibhav used the field to perfection. When Hazlewood overcompensated with a full delivery, the youngster responded with a feisty cover drive that pierced the gap on the off side with surgical precision.

Attempting to outfox the left-hander, Hazlewood then deployed a slower bouncer. Vaibhav, displaying maturity beyond his years, waited on the back foot, read the ploy, and pulled it deep into the stands to leave the cricketing world in awe.

Earlier, against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vaibhav had adopted a similar 'wait and pounce' approach, looting 24 runs through three boundaries and two massive sixes.

Lacking their fifth specialist bowler in Suyash Sharma, RCB struggled to contain the second-wicket partnership. Dhruv Jurel, in no mood to play second fiddle, tore into the uncapped seamer Abhinandan Singh, smashing him for 24 runs in the final over of the powerplay. It propelled Rajasthan to a staggering 97 for 1 after six overs—a record-breaking start that effectively broke the back of the chase.

RCB were forced to introduce the part-time spin of Tim David as early as the eighth over, but he was promptly taken to the cleaners by Vaibhav in an 18-run over. It took the veteran Krunal Pandya to finally apply the brakes, claiming the prize scalp of Vaibhav in the ninth over. Krunal then dismissed Shimron Hetmyer with a well-directed bouncer—a delivery that is fast becoming his go-to weapon in this IPL campaign.

When Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag fell for just 3 in Hazlewood’s third over, a hint of nerves fluttered through the Guwahati crowd. However, Jurel ensured the asking rate never became a cause for concern. Partnering with the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, the wicketkeeper-batsman navigated the middle overs with composure, steering the Royals past the finish line in the 18th over.

RCB WOBBLE OUT OF TROUBLE

The day had begun with Rajasthan Royals winning the toss and opting to bowl on a surface retaining a touch of moisture. Jofra Archer immediately justified the decision, tearing into the top order to remove both Phil Salt and Devdutt Padikkal in a hostile opening spell.

Virat Kohli, who has started the 2026 season in fine touch, rode his luck early on but eventually perished for 32. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi then spun a web around the RCB middle order, accounting for both Kohli and Krunal Pandya to leave the visitors reeling at 62 for 4.

Medium-pacer Brijesh Sharma, drafted into the XI in place of Tushar Deshpande, also made his mark. He struck twice in quick succession, removing the dangerous duo of Tim David and Jitesh Sharma. When Romario Shepherd fell for 22 in the 14th over to Ravindra Jadeja, RCB looked dead and buried at 125 for 7.

IMPACT PLAYER GAMBLE

It was at this juncture that the RCB management opted to pull the trigger on their Impact Player, introducing Venkatesh Iyer in place of Suyash Sharma—a tactical gamble that sacrificed a specialist bowling option for batting depth.

Rajat Patidar, who remained intent on maintaining the scoring rate despite the carnage at the other end, found a willing ally in Iyer. The pair added 41 for the eighth wicket, with Patidar compiling a gritty 63 off 40 balls. Venkatesh made the most of his RCB debut, plundering 21 runs from the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma to push the total over the 200-mark.

Ultimately, however, 201 proved far from enough to halt the Sooryavanshi juggernaut.

Rajasthan Royals made it four in four, sitting pretty at the top of the IPL 2026 points table, while RCB's bright start to their title defence suffered what they will hope is only a minor blip.