DC vs RR IPL 2026: Bowlers have struggled to counter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi this season. At just 15, he leads Rajasthan Royals in runs and has dominated powerplay overs, targeting Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood for boundaries. Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh advises bowlers to pitch deliveries outside his hitting arc.
Against Axar Patel's squad, Sooryavanshi again showcased his aggressive batting, hitting 46 off 21 balls with five fours and three sixes. His strike rate of 219.05 underscores his attacking style.
‘Against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, I would plan to get his wicket anyhow’: Harbhajan Singh
In a JioHotstar interview, Harbhajan said, "My goal against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would be to claim his wicket by any means. His form is key. I'd focus on spinning the ball outside his hitting zone. If he steps out to attack, that's fine, but I'd avoid letting him settle and hit from the crease. That's my bowling tactic. At 15, he clears the ropes against every bowler. I've played with many, but no batter has dominated from ball one like Suryavanshi. I've often dismissed Chris Gayle, but Suryavanshi is on another level. His bat speed is remarkable."
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Sooryavanshi ranks sixth in the Orange Cap race, scoring 486 runs in 12 matches with an impressive average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 234.78.
Although Rajasthan lost to DC, Sooryavanshi cemented his reputation as a rising star. In the second over, he dispatched a short ball for six over deep square leg. Facing Mitchell Starc, he hit a four and a six, then sent another short ball for a six to fine leg. In the fourth over, he added a four. He was dismissed in the eighth over by Madhav Tiwari.
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With two matches left, the Riyan Parag-led team faces fading playoff hopes after losing to Delhi. They have 12 points from 12 games and must win both remaining matches, relying on favorable results elsewhere.