Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting sensation, continues to win hearts both on and off the field. While his fearless strokeplay has taken IPL 2026 by storm, his humility and respect for the game’s legends have earned him admiration beyond cricket.Ahead of Rajasthan Royals’ Eliminator clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the teenage prodigy was seen touching the feet of legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar during a pre-match practice session, a gesture that quickly went viral among fans.The heartwarming moment took place while Gavaskar and former India coach Sanjay Bangar were presenting the pre-match show on the ground alongside TV host Jatin Sapru. Sooryavanshi, who was warming up nearby, spotted the duo and immediately paused his training session to walk over and seek their blessings in traditional Indian fashion.However, the youngster didn’t stop at just winning hearts before the game. Later in the evening, he lit up the Eliminator with one of the most explosive innings of the IPL 2026 season.The Rajasthan Royals opener smashed a breathtaking 97 off just 29 deliveries, dismantling the SRH bowling attack and powering RR to a massive 243/8. Before the match, the teenager was seen meditating calmly on the field, but once the game began, he unleashed complete destruction on the SRH bowlers with 12 sixes and five fours. Sooryavanshi equalled Suresh Raina’s record for the fastest IPL playoff fifty in just 16 balls and also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season. He narrowly missed out on a century after falling for 97 while attempting another big shot.Jofra Archer then starred with the ball, dismissing Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan as SRH were bowled out for 196 ending their IPL 2026 season with a defeat against Rajasthan Royals for the 1st time since 2023. Rajasthan Royals sealed a dominant 47-run victory to advance to Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
