A storm named Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, blowing away the Gujarat Titans as the 14-year-old prodigy hammered an astonishing 101 off just 38 balls. His breathtaking knock helped the Rajasthan Royals chase down a massive total of 210 in just 15.5 overs, winning the match by eight wickets with 25 balls to spare. With this emphatic victory, RR climbed to eighth in the points table, while GT slipped to third after suffering a heavy blow to their net run rate.
Even RR head coach Rahul Dravid, nursing an injured leg, leapt up in celebration from his wheelchair. It was not just the Royals’ dugout in awe, but every spectator in the stadium and fans across the world were applauding the brilliance of Vaibhav, who scored the second-fastest IPL century and the youngest ever to hit a T20 ton at just 14 years and 32 days old.
It was a spectacle in every sense. Chasing an imposing target, Vaibhav came out all guns blazing, initially targeting Ishant Sharma before dismantling every other bowler who came his way. Stand-in captain Rashid Khan, deputising for Shubman Gill, had no answers, nor did the rest of his bowling attack. Vaibhav’s fireworks saw the Royals race to 100 by just the eighth over, with 87 runs already on the board after the Powerplay. Vaibhav reached his half-century in 17 balls and needed just 35 to bring up his hundred, blasting 11 sixes along the way.
Against one of the best bowling units in this season’s IPL, Vaibhav delivered a batting masterclass. After showing glimpses of his power in the previous two games, he finally exploded against GT. He maintained his shape against the pacers and, despite occasionally losing balance against the spinners, kept finding the boundary with ease.
Such was his dominance that he made Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played a superb knock of 70, look like a mere spectator. Together, they stitched a 166-run stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in Royals’ history. Jaiswal, brilliant in his own right with some eye-catching strokes, had the best seat in the house to witness Vaibhav’s carnage.
Karim Janat had a debut to forget, conceding 30 runs in the only over he bowled. After posting 166 inside 12 overs, it was clear there was only going to be one winner. Despite RR’s recent struggles in run-chases, it would have taken a miracle for GT to turn this one around, but that miracle never came. Skipper Riyan Parag then added the finishing touches with a lively 15-ball 32 to complete a night that belonged to a new star: Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
GT’s top-order fires again
The Titans posted a competitive total, thanks once again to a strong showing from their top order. Together, Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler accounted for 167 of the team’s 209 runs. After his 90 against KKR, Gill continued his rich vein of form, top-scoring with a well-crafted 84. He once again provided GT with a solid start, stitching a 93-run opening partnership.
Although the Royals’ bowlers managed to create a few opportunities early on, their fielders could not capitalise, allowing GT’s openers to settle in. Facing his former team, Buttler played an unbeaten 50-run knock to help his side cross the 200-run mark after the fall of the openers.
On the bowling front, Mahesh Theekshana, returning to the playing XI, stood out as the star performer for RR, claiming two crucial wickets in his four-over spell.