Rajasthan Royals ride Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitz to crush LSG, boost playoff hopes

Rajasthan Royals arrived in Jaipur with no room left for caution. Their IPL 2026 campaign had already lurched through too many missed chances, collapses and what-ifs.

Against Lucknow Super Giants, it was simple — win or watch the playoff race drift away. What followed at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium turned into another unforgettable chapter in the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The 15-year-old sensation produced yet another astonishing assault, smashing 93 off just 38 balls as Rajasthan chased down 221 with seven wickets in hand to keep their playoff hopes alive. In a season where RR have repeatedly flirted with elimination, Sooryavanshi once again dragged them back from the brink.

Earlier in the evening, it had looked like Lucknow were about to bat Rajasthan out of the contest.

Mitchell Marsh continued his outstanding IPL 2026 season with a brutal 96 off 57 deliveries, hammering 11 fours and five sixes to propel LSG to 220 for five. The Australian has now piled up 563 runs in 13 matches and has been one of the few consistent positives in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Lucknow.

Josh Inglis gave the visitors early momentum with a blistering 60 off 29 balls as LSG raced past 100 within nine overs. Rajasthan’s Powerplay bowling once again looked vulnerable, with Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma and the rest of the attack struggling badly for control on a batting-friendly Jaipur surface.

Young leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja provided the only real breakthrough for RR, returning figures of 2 for 35.

Rishabh Pant chipped in with 35 during a 64-run stand alongside Marsh, but the LSG captain never fully looked in rhythm and struggled to maintain the same tempo through the middle overs.

At the innings break, 220 appeared more than enough.

Then Rajasthan’s openers completely transformed the mood of the chase.

Yashasvi Jaiswal came out firing after his omission from India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, tearing into Akash Singh and Mohsin Khan during a furious start. But while Jaiswal grabbed the early headlines, Sooryavanshi initially played a far calmer role than usual.

Known for explosive starts, the teenager instead focused on strike rotation and composure during the opening overs, allowing Jaiswal to dominate the attack.

That patience only made what followed even more extraordinary.

After Jaiswal fell for a rapid 43, Sooryavanshi instantly shifted gears and unleashed complete destruction on Lucknow’s bowling attack.

His half-century arrived in just 23 balls as he dismantled anything short and launched fuller deliveries effortlessly over the ropes. Even on a surface that occasionally held up and offered grip, the teenager’s timing and power looked outrageous.

By the time he eventually fell for 93, the contest was effectively over.

The innings also pushed Sooryavanshi to the top of the Orange Cap standings, further underlining the scale of his breakout season.

Dhruv Jurel then calmly sealed the chase with an unbeaten 53 as Rajasthan completed the target with five balls remaining.

The win dramatically reshaped the playoff equation as well. Rajasthan climbed above Punjab Kings in the standings, pushing PBKS out of the top four for the first time this season.

RR now head into their final league match with qualification still within reach if other results go their way.

For Lucknow, meanwhile, another magnificent innings from Marsh ultimately ended in frustration on a night completely hijacked by the latest Vaibhav Sooryavanshi masterclass.