Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kaviya Maran endured a painful night in the stands as SRH suffered a crushing IPL 2026 Eliminator defeat against Rajasthan Royals inspired by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 97.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2026 journey came to a disappointing end after Rajasthan Royals knocked them out with a commanding 47-run victory in the Eliminator at New Chandigarh on Wednesday. Throughout the one-sided contest, cameras frequently captured SRH owner Kaviya Maran looking visibly emotional as Hyderabad failed to recover from an early onslaught by Rajasthan’s batting unit.
The Royals completely dominated the high-pressure playoff clash, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi producing one of the finest innings ever seen in an IPL knockout match.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Tears Apart SRH Bowling Attack
Rajasthan Royals posted a massive 243/8 after Sooryavanshi unleashed carnage at the top of the order. The 15-year-old left-hander smashed a sensational 97 off just 29 balls, hammering 12 sixes and five boundaries at an extraordinary strike rate above 330.
SRH bowlers had no answers to the youngster’s fearless batting display. Even captain Pat Cummins was taken apart during the powerplay as Rajasthan raced to 80 without loss in the first six overs.
Despite defeating Rajasthan Royals twice during the league stage, Hyderabad failed to gain control at any point in the Eliminator. The bowling attack leaked runs consistently, while field placements and execution also came under pressure against RR’s relentless strokeplay.
Kaviya Maran’s Emotional Reactions Go Viral
As the game drifted further away from Hyderabad, Kaviya Maran’s reactions from the stands became a major talking point on social media. Usually known for her energetic support and animated celebrations during SRH matches, the franchise owner looked stunned as wickets and boundaries kept piling up against her side.
The pressure of the chase eventually proved too much for Hyderabad’s aggressive batting lineup. Jofra Archer struck early with a fiery opening spell, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a duck before also removing Travis Head and Ishan Kishan.
SRH collapsed to 57/4 inside five overs, leaving the side chasing the game for the remainder of the innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy fought back with a quick 38 off 20 balls, while Salil Arora added 35, but the asking rate kept climbing rapidly.
Although Hyderabad managed to stretch the chase deep into the innings, the result never looked in doubt as they were bowled out for 196.
Rajasthan Royals Completely Outplay SRH In Eliminator
Rajasthan Royals looked sharper in every department on the night. Alongside Sooryavanshi’s brilliance, Archer’s hostile new-ball spell played a crucial role in dismantling Hyderabad’s top order.
Ravindra Jadeja, Nandre Burger and Sushant Mishra also chipped in with important wickets as RR maintained control throughout the chase.
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After the match, Kaviya Maran was seen meeting and shaking hands with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, acknowledging the youngster’s extraordinary innings that effectively ended SRH’s campaign.
On the night, Rajasthan Royals were unquestionably the superior side as they stormed ahead in IPL 2026 powered by Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking knock and a clinical bowling effort.
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