Three days after his 15th birthday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi returned to the ipl 2026 like he had never been away, beginning his 2026 season with a half-century off 15 balls that was astonishing because it had come on a pitch on which Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had been dismissed for 127.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Starts IPL 2026 with Explosive 15-Ball Half-Century
Sooryavanshi said Rajasthan Royals (RR) wanted to maximise the powerplay in the chase, which is why he was ultra-aggressive in his approach.
“The plan was to execute well in the powerplay. At the start, the wicket looked a bit sticky. But later when the ball got older, it started coming to the bat well,” Sooryavanshi said after RR’s eight-wicket win with 47 balls to spare in Guwahati.
Rajasthan Royals’ Powerplay Strategy Dominates Against CSK
“I do think about defence, but today our plan was to execute in powerplay. Because in small targets, the game is decided in the powerplay. If the bowling team had bowled well in the powerplay, the game could have gone to their side. But we all went all-out and our powerplay went well. So that was the plan.”
Sooryavanshi Explains Aggressive Approach in Low-Target Chase
Sooryavanshi had been dropped off his first ball by CSK debutant Kartik Sharma, a tough chance running back to deep midwicket off a pull shot. He finished the powerplay on 52 off 16 with five sixes and four fours, with RR cruising at 70 for no loss. Sooryavanshi said the RR management had backed him to play his natural game, and that he had prepared well before the start of the season.
RR Management’s Support and Preparation Key to Sooryavanshi’s Confidence
“They just told me that we are backing you and you just stick to your natural game. And they treated me really well,” he said. “And the practice went well. I was dependent on preparation. That went well. We came here a little early. So the practice went well. And they told me to just play my game. Read the situation and play. Rest, just back your game.”