Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin led the cheers as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smacked a 26-ball 78 to take Rajasthan Royals close to the 201-run target set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-profile clash in IPL 2026, at the Barsapara Stadium.
Sooryavanshi smashed a blistering half-century off just 15 balls during the 202-run chase. He reached the milestone by lofting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six off the third delivery of the fifth over of Rajasthan Royals’ innings.
This was Sooryavanshi’s second 50 in 15 deliveries for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. Earlier, in their opening game on March 30 against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati, Sooryavanshi had also raced to a fifty in just 15 balls.
“This is insane! This is Vaiball Suryanvanshi.
Let’s vibe with this fella🔥🔥,” Ashwin tweeted on Friday night.
This is insane!
This is Vaiball Suryanvanshi.
Let’s vibe with this fella🔥🔥#ipl2026 pic.twitter.com/nSeNnJiLBa
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) April 10, 2026
“Does Vaibhav Suryavanshi target big bowlers purposely? I like to think so,” former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan tweeted.
Does Vaibhav suryavanshi targets big bowlers purposely?
I like to think so.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2026
“Balak taiyaar hai..,” former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif replied to his own tweet from March 30, when Sooryavanshi had smacked another fifty.
Balak taiyaar hai.. https://t.co/Qw1aaAMdhr
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 10, 2026
Sooryavanshi became only the second batter in the world to score two IPL fifties in 15 or fewer balls. The first to achieve the feat was Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk, who also struck two 15-ball half-centuries for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.
The record for the fastest IPL half-century is held by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who reached the milestone in just 13 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on May 11, 2023.
Vaibhav and Dhruv Jurel built a 108-run partnership for the second wicket before the former was dismissed by Krunal Pandya.
