IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Smashes Record-Breaking 37-Ball Century but SRH Chase Down 229 to Beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 Wickets
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name deeper into IPL history with a breathtaking 37-ball 103 for Rajasthan Royals, but Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive middle order — led by Ishan Kishan’s 74 off 31 balls and Abhishek Sharma’s 57 off 29 — chased down a target of 229 in just 18.3 overs to win by five wickets in a high-scoring thriller on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
Sooryavanshi Rewrites the Record Books
Put in to bat first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals rode the brilliance of their teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered his second century of IPL 2026 — this time off just 37 deliveries. The left-hander, born on 27 March 2011, became the first batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League to score two centuries in 40 balls or fewer. His innings included a stunning mix of audacious sixes over midwicket and precisely timed boundaries through the covers.
Sooryavanshi arrived at the crease after the early fall of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and immediately took charge. He stitched together a brilliant 112-run partnership for the second wicket with Dhruv Jurel, who contributed a measured 51 off 35 balls. While Jurel anchored one end, Sooryavanshi unleashed carnage at the other. His hundred came up with a flat six over long-on, and he celebrated with a muted fist pump — the composure of a cricketer far beyond his years.
Rajasthan Post 228 for 6
Thanks largely to Sooryavanshi’s onslaught, Rajasthan Royals posted 228 for 6 in their 20 overs — a total that would have been considered match-winning in most circumstances. The IPL 2026 Saturday double-header had already promised fireworks, and the Jaipur crowd was treated to one of the most explosive batting displays of the tournament so far.
Sooryavanshi eventually fell for 103 off 37 balls, caught in the deep trying to accelerate further. His innings included 10 sixes and seven fours, a strike rate of 278.38 that left statisticians scrambling to find parallels. At just 15 years old, he has already set records that seasoned internationals have never achieved in the tournament’s 19-year history.
Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma Lead the Chase
Chasing 229, Sunrisers Hyderabad could have been forgiven for feeling daunted, but their top order had other plans. Ishan Kishan, opening the batting, launched into the Rajasthan bowling attack from the first over. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 74 off just 31 deliveries, smashing six sixes and five fours in a devastating display of power hitting that reduced the required equation to a run-a-ball by the halfway mark.
Abhishek Sharma, batting at number three, complemented Kishan’s aggression with 57 off 29 balls. The pair added 98 runs in just 7.2 overs before Kishan was dismissed. By then, the damage was done. SRH’s middle order, including cameos from Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins, ensured there were no hiccups in the chase. The century-scoring trend in IPL 2026 continues to redefine what is achievable in T20 cricket.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Coverage
Two Totals Over 220 Chased on the Same Day
Remarkably, for the second time on the same day, a total exceeding 220 was successfully chased down in IPL 2026. Earlier in the afternoon, Punjab Kings had chased down 265 against Delhi Capitals in another record-breaking encounter. The twin results sent shockwaves through the tournament, raising questions about the balance between bat and ball and the impact of dew in evening matches.
SRH reached 229 for 5 in 18.3 overs, winning with nine balls to spare. The emphatic victory boosted their net run rate and strengthened their position in the IPL 2026 playoff race. For Rajasthan Royals, the defeat was particularly bitter — Sooryavanshi’s historic knock deserved to be on the winning side, but the bowling unit simply could not defend a total that seemed impregnable.
What This Means for the Playoff Picture
Also Read: Cricket News
With the tournament past its halfway stage, the results from Saturday have significant playoff implications. SRH’s victory lifts them into the top four, while Rajasthan Royals slip to sixth with mounting pressure to win their remaining games. The sheer volume of runs being scored in IPL 2026 suggests that teams with the deepest batting line-ups will hold the advantage as the business end of the tournament approaches.
For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the records and accolades will keep coming. But on this night in Jaipur, the teenager learned the cruelest lesson in cricket: individual brilliance does not always guarantee victory.
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