Mahela Jayawardene heaped praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old’s fearless knock against Mumbai Indians, saying the youngster’s evolution will be exciting to watch. The MI head coach admitted that Sooryavanshi’s intent, especially against Jasprit Bumrah, caught everyone’s attention.
The teenage sensation once again lit up IPL 2026, smashing 39 off just 14 balls in a rain-shortened clash in Guwahati. Speaking after the match, Jayawardene acknowledged the youngster’s growing confidence and ability to take on top-quality bowling.
RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Scorecard | Highlights
“No, I think we all knew he is a great talent from the way he performed last year. We managed to control him last season, but every match is a challenge. He has really good skills, and for us, it’s about executing our skills. Bumrah probably missed his length by a little bit, and he was ready for it. So, yeah, it’ll be fascinating to see how he evolves. He really took our bowlers down,” Jayawardene said in the post-match press conference.
“And don’t forget, Jaiswal was key today. The way he batted in the first three overs, he took it on and played some really good cricketing shots. He batted through the innings for them, and that made a huge difference as well. So I think we have to understand what went wrong and then work on that,” he added.
Sooryavanshi’s innings was once again built on pure intent. Facing Bumrah for the first time, the 15-year-old showed no hesitation, launching him for two towering sixes in his opening over. It set the tone for what turned into a one-sided powerplay, with Rajasthan Royals racing ahead early.
The youngster has been one of the standout performers of IPL 2026 so far, scoring 122 runs in three matches at an average of over 40 and an explosive strike rate. His campaign had already taken off with a stunning 15-ball half-century earlier in the season, and this knock only added to the growing buzz around him.
HOW SOORYAVANSHI-JAISWAL THRASHED MI
The match, delayed by rain and reduced to 11 overs per side, quickly turned into a batting blitz from Rajasthan Royals. Openers Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal came out with clear intent and never allowed MI to settle.
The pair added 80 runs in just five overs, dismantling the bowling attack and effectively taking the game away within the powerplay. RR had already raced to 50 in just 2.4 overs, leaving MI chasing the game from the start.
While Sooryavanshi provided the fireworks with his 39 off 14, Jaiswal anchored the innings with a composed yet aggressive 77 not out off 32 balls, ensuring there was no slowdown.
In reply, Mumbai Indians never really recovered. Early wickets dented their chase, and despite a few moments of resistance, they were restricted to 123 for 9, falling short by 27 runs.
For Rajasthan, it was another statement performance that took them to the top of the table. For Sooryavanshi, it was yet another reminder that this is not just a breakout phase, but the beginning of something much bigger.
