Irfan Pathan Warns GT Of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Threat Ahead Of RR vs GT

Irfan Pathan backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to trouble Gujarat Titans again as RR gear up for a crucial IPL 2026 clash in Jaipur.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has highlighted young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a major threat ahead of the Rajasthan Royals’ upcoming clash against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026. The two sides are set to face off at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on May 9, a venue that holds special memories for the teenage batter.

Pathan reflected on Sooryavanshi’s stunning performance at the same ground last season, where the left-hander stunned the cricketing world with a breathtaking 35-ball century against the Titans. The knock remains one of the most memorable innings by a young player in IPL history.

“There will be memories of that knock against GT last season, both for our ‘Fearless Prodigy’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the GT bowlers, because it was so unexpected-a teenager taking on the best when his team was struggling to win games,” Jiostar expert Irfan Pathan said ahead of IPL 2026 Revenge Week.

Young Star’s Form Adds To RR’s Strength

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has continued his impressive form this season, emerging as a key contributor in Rajasthan Royals’ batting lineup. Pathan noted that the youngster’s aggressive approach and consistency make him a player to watch once again, especially on batting-friendly conditions in Jaipur.

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“This time, though, the tables have turned. RR have managed to hold on to a spot in the top four, while GT are slowly gathering momentum. 400 runs at a strike-rate of 230 is outrageous for the youngster in the season so far and it will be interesting to see if RR’s young core fires again on what look like flat wickets in Jaipur,” he added.

Earlier this season, when the two teams met in Ahmedabad, it turned into a high-scoring contest. Rajasthan Royals posted a strong total of 210/6, powered by half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, along with a quick cameo from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

RR vs GT: Tight Contest Expected In Jaipur

Gujarat Titans responded well in that game, with Sai Sudharsan anchoring the chase with a fluent 73 off 44 balls. Contributions from Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada kept them in the hunt, but Rajasthan held their nerve as Tushar Deshpande successfully defended 11 runs in the final over, restricting GT to 204/8.

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Both teams head into the upcoming clash with identical win-loss records, having secured six wins from 10 matches. However, Rajasthan Royals currently have the edge with a superior net run rate of +0.510 compared to Gujarat Titans’ -0.147.