Rajasthan Royals’ dream IPL 2026 campaign came to a painful end after Gujarat Titans defeated them by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 at New Chandigarh on May 29.
While Shubman Gill’s breathtaking century powered GT into the final, the emotional image that captured everyone’s attention after the match was young RR batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi crying alone in the dugout.
The 15-year-old sensation, who had carried Rajasthan Royals throughout the tournament, looked shattered after the final moments of the game. Cameras spotted Vaibhav sitting quietly in a corner of the dugout with teary eyes, struggling to hold back his emotions as Gujarat Titans celebrated qualification for the IPL 2026 final.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Fights Lone Battle For RR
Despite the heartbreaking result, Sooryavanshi once again produced a remarkable innings under pressure. Opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals, the youngster smashed 96 runs off just 47 balls, including eight boundaries and seven sixes at a strike rate above 204.
After RR lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel cheaply, Vaibhav rebuilt the innings aggressively alongside Ravindra Jadeja. His fearless strokeplay kept RR alive and helped the side reach a strong total of 214/6 in 20 overs.
The young batter looked destined for another IPL century before Kagiso Rabada finally dismissed him for 96 in the 18th over. Once Vaibhav departed, the momentum slowly shifted despite Donovan Ferreira’s explosive late cameo of 38 off 11 balls
Shubman Gill Ends RR’s Fairytale Campaign
While Rajasthan Royals posted a massive score, Gujarat Titans responded with even greater authority. Shubman Gill produced one of the finest playoff knocks in IPL history, hammering 104 runs off just 53 deliveries.
Gill and Sai Sudharsan completely dominated the RR bowling attack during the powerplay and middle overs. Their opening stand took the game away from Rajasthan Royals before Rahul Tewatia finished the chase with eight balls remaining.
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As GT players celebrated on the field, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s emotional reaction in the dugout reflected the pain of a youngster who had given everything for his franchise. Despite the defeat, the RR opener finished IPL 2026 as one of the biggest stars of the season and earned admiration across the cricketing world for both his performances and passion for the game.
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