The Rajasthan Royals defeated the Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets on Tuesday thanks to a brilliant 93 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, which increased the team’s chances of making the IPL playoffs.
In his 38-ball knock, T20 prodigy Sooryavanshi, who was playing as an impact substitute, hit seven fours and ten sixes to lead Rajasthan’s pursuit of 221 at home in Jaipur. It was his third half-century of the season.
With five balls remaining, Rajasthan reached their target for their eighth victory in 13 games and moved into the top four of the 10-team standings. Left-hander Sooryavanshi missed out on a century before Dhruv Jurel made an undefeated 53.
If they defeat the Mumbai Indians in their final league game on Sunday, they will secure the final play-off position.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the reigning champions, have already advanced to the playoffs of the tournament, that will conclude in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Lucknow opener Mitchell Marsh’s 96 was overshadowed by Sooryavanshi’s batting blitz, which led his team to a commanding 220-5. With 579 runs in 13 games, the T20 star has surged to the top of the batting leaderboard in the 2026 IPL, surpassing Marsh’s March total of 563 runs.
With a crushing strike-rate of 237.29, he also has a hundred to his name. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi’s opening partner, gave the first boost with a 23-ball 43 in a first-wicket stand of 75.
In the seventh over, Jaiswal, who took over as captain in lieu of injured Riyan Parag, was dismissed, but Rajasthan managed to maintain pace as Jurel and Sooryavanshi combined for 105 runs.
In a 29-run 12th over, Sooryavanshi hit two consecutive sixes off Prince Yadav and another two off Mayank Yadav to put the Royals on course after reaching his fifty in 23 balls.
Abdul Samad made a well-timed catch in the deep when he finally fell to Mohsin Khan, but the damage was already done.
Josh Inglis, who scored 60 off 29 balls and added 109 for the first wicket with fellow Australian Marsh, gave bottom-place Lucknow, who are already eliminated from the play-off campaign along with Mumbai, a brilliant start.
Marsh and captain Rishabh Pant, who scored 35, maintained the tempo after Inglis and Nicholas Pooran left. Marsh missed his hundred after being run out on the penultimate ball as the Rajasthan bowlers rallied in the last few overs.
