A sensational century from teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi went in vain as Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a dominant five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 clash on Saturday.
Despite posting a formidable total of 228 for six, Rajasthan Royals were outclassed by a powerful Sunrisers Hyderabad batting display, which chased down the target with nine balls to spare in a thrilling encounter.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Smashes Second IPL Century
Batting first after being put in, Rajasthan Royals rode on a magnificent innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered his second IPL century in spectacular fashion.
The young left-hander scored a breathtaking 103 off just 37 balls, showcasing fearless stroke play and remarkable composure against an experienced bowling attack. His explosive knock laid the foundation for Rajasthan Royals to build a competitive total.
Sooryavanshi received solid support from wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who contributed 51 off 35 balls. The duo stitched together a crucial 112-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilising the innings after an early setback.
In the closing overs, Donovan Ferreira provided the finishing touches with a brisk 33 runs, playing several big shots to push Rajasthan Royals past the 200-run mark.
Their combined effort ensured Rajasthan Royals finished strongly at 228/6, setting Sunrisers Hyderabad a challenging target of 229 runs.
Ishan Kishan And Abhishek Sharma Lead SRH’s Dominant Chase
In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad produced an explosive batting performance led by opener Ishan Kishan.
Kishan played a match-winning knock of 74 runs off just 31 balls, taking charge early in the innings and maintaining a high scoring rate throughout the chase. His aggressive approach kept the required run rate under control and shifted momentum firmly in SRH’s favour.
He was well supported by fellow opener Abhishek Sharma, who added a quick-fire 57 off 29 deliveries, forming a dangerous opening partnership that laid the foundation for the successful chase.
The SRH batting unit maintained the tempo even after losing wickets at intervals, ensuring there were no major slowdowns in the run chase.
SRH Seal Victory With Nine Balls Remaining
Sunrisers Hyderabad completed the chase in style, reaching 229/5 in 18.3 overs to register a convincing five-wicket victory.
Chasing a target as large as 229 with nine balls remaining highlighted the batting depth and confidence within the SRH lineup. The win is expected to significantly boost their position in the IPL 2026 points table as the playoff race intensifies.
While Rajasthan Royals will take positives from Sooryavanshi’s sensational century, the defeat underscores the challenges of defending even big totals against aggressive batting sides.