After Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 encounter on Friday, young RR player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enjoyed a fun exchange with RCB captain Rajat Patidar. The 15-year-old standout scored 78 runs from 26 balls, steering his team to success against RCB. His aggressive batting drew widespread acclaim from supporters and analysts alike. A clip circulating online shows Sooryavanshi chatting with RCB’s Jitesh Sharma when Patidar approached and jokingly placed his hand around the youngster’s neck. The moment concluded with laughter from both players, and the footage has quickly spread across social platforms.
RCB leader Rajat Patidar acknowledged that even after setting a target exceeding 200 runs, his team was overwhelmed by Rajasthan Royals’ dynamic batting lineup, highlighting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s contribution as pivotal.
Sooryavanshi spearheaded Rajasthan Royals’ pursuit, dismantling RCB’s bowlers with confident strokes as the home side secured a six-wicket triumph. The teen displayed remarkable flair, consistently finding the boundary with 15 of his 26 balls resulting in fours or sixes.
Although he was eventually dismissed by Krunal Pandya, the early momentum he provided left Rajasthan Royals in a strong position. The team faced a minor setback, dropping from 129/1 to 134/4, but Sooryavanshi’s groundwork kept the target achievable.
‘In that innings, Vaibhav’s performance was enjoyable to watch. The approach from Vaibhav and Yashasvi made the pitch seem straightforward. We began poorly in the powerplay by losing wickets, but reaching over 200 was encouraging. Their openers, especially Vaibhav, turned the game. Our recent batting has been strong, and this match offers valuable insights,’ Patidar commented post-game.
(With inputs from IANS)
