Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looked devastated. So did the Rajasthan Royals dugout. For the second game in a row, the 15-year-old sensation fell agonisingly short of a century after being dismissed in the nineties. It first happened in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, and then again on Friday in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
Despite the heartbreak, Sooryavanshi produced another breathtaking innings, smashing 96 off just 47 deliveries to propel Rajasthan Royals to a competitive 214/6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
A larger crowd than the one that attended the Eliminator had turned up, with most fans eager to witness the teenage prodigy in action. They were treated to yet another masterclass as Sooryavanshi took on some of the finest bowlers in the tournament, including Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder.
However, a century that seemed destined to arrive once again slipped away. Rabada’s short-ball trap worked perfectly as Sooryavanshi miscued a pull shot and was caught at third man, falling four runs short of a landmark hundred. Moments after the dismissal, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was seen having an animated conversation with the youngster, who looked visibly distraught.
The innings was particularly impressive considering the circumstances. Rajasthan lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel inside the first two overs, while Gujarat’s pace attack came armed with a clear strategy — bowl hard lengths into the body, mix in sharp bouncers and deny Sooryavanshi any room to free his arms.
On a used surface that had already hosted the Eliminator two nights earlier, stroke-making was not as straightforward. The ball did not come onto the bat as nicely, and Sooryavanshi struggled for timing in the opening stages. Yet, even when the bowlers appeared to be on top, he found ways to produce extraordinary shots.
The standout moment came when he launched a 153 kmph back-of-a-length delivery from Rabada straight down the ground for a towering six, a stroke that left both fans and commentators in disbelief.
Promoted to No. 4, Ravindra Jadeja played the perfect supporting role. The veteran all-rounder attacked the pacers whenever opportunities arose, particularly Prasidh Krishna, and raced to 34 off 19 balls before retiring hurt due to discomfort caused by a tennis-elbow issue. He later returned to the crease and remained unbeaten on 45 off 35 deliveries.
Sooryavanshi also enjoyed a slice of luck when Sai Sudharsan dropped him on 46. Gujarat Titans paid heavily for that miss as the teenager brought up his sixth half-century of the season and continued his assault through the middle overs.
Even after being struck on the helmet by Rabada, Sooryavanshi showed no signs of slowing down. He counterattacked brilliantly against both Rabada and Holder, keeping Rajasthan’s scoring rate soaring.
Gujarat Titans appeared to have done enough to restrict the Royals to a total below 200, but Donovan Ferreira’s explosive cameo changed the complexion of the innings. The South African smashed an unbeaten 38 off just 11 deliveries, including a brutal assault on Rashid Khan in the final over that yielded 27 runs.
Ferreira’s late fireworks, combined with Sooryavanshi’s brilliance and Jadeja’s composure, ensured Rajasthan Royals crossed the 200-run mark and finished with a formidable total of 214/6.
