IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's storm blows away LSG, keeps RR alive in playoffs race

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) campaign stayed alive in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) with a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 64 on Tuesday, May 19 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. After being put in to bat first, LSG posted a massive score of 220/5 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on splendid knocks from Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis (60 off 29). 

In reply, Rajasthan chased down the target in 19.1 overs, courtesy of a breathtaking innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (93 off 38). On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel (53* off 38) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (43 off 23) also made valuable contributions.

Earlier in the day, Lucknow got off to a brilliant start to their innings with Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis adding 109 runs for the first wicket off 50 balls. The duo brought their team to a strong position at 151/1 after 12.1 overs. However, LSG could only score 69 runs off the last 47 balls, despite having nine wickets in hand as Rajasthan’s bowlers made a brilliant comeback in the innings. 

Meanwhile, RR registered their first victory of the season in Jaipur after suffering three successive losses at the venue. Following their win, RR rose to the fourth position on the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points from 13 matches. On the other hand, LSG remained last with eight points from 13 matches.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for his sensational innings. The southpaw started cautiously, scoring just five runs off the first ten balls, but still brought up his fifty off 23 balls. After completing his milestone, the 15-year-old pressed on the accelerator but unfortunately missed out on his century, falling seven runs short of the landmark. He whacked seven fours and ten sixes during his annihilating innings.

Turning Point

After a 75-run opening stand between Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal off 39 balls, Dhruv Jurel walked in at number three. He got involved in a belligerent 105-run stand off just 45 balls with Sooryavanshi for the second wicket. Their massive stand brought the required run rate under seven runs an over and turned the game in Rajasthan's favour.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals):

(on the importance of the win) I think everyone put in the hard yards and they played really well. Everyone was into the game and working towards it. The way Jofra bowled and the way Brijesh bowled, because we knew the wicket was pretty good and runs were going to come. The way Jofra came back initially in the powerplay as well, I think it was unbelievable. The way Vaibhav batted and Dhruv batted, I think they killed the game. Absolutely amazing. I’m really happy for the team, we needed it. And of course all the support staff have put in a lot of work behind the scenes as well, so I think it’s unbelievable. Very grateful. (on managing the bowlers during the innings) I think Brijesh had some niggles and Sandy(Sandeep Sharma) Bhai also, so I had to manage in the game. I wanted to bring Deshpande in, so if he could bowl well, I could give him one or two overs. So it was all about the decisions on what I wanted to do and I felt really good, whatever I was thinking was working. I really enjoyed it. The way they showed character and came and bowled in their areas, because I know that on this wicket the runs are going to come. We have to understand that if we bat, we will go for it and try our best. So I think it was unbelievable. (on the belief in the camp while chasing 220) I think we were just keeping it simple. I wanted to go in and play good cricketing shots and get the momentum. Me and Vaibhav were talking about that as well, that whoever is in should make sure he bats till the end. The way he batted, he killed the game as well. So I really enjoyed it. (on the next game and staying relaxed) I just want to play with a smile and enjoy the beautiful game of cricket. I think that is the fun. If we go and enjoy and relax with a smile, whether things are going our way or not, we need to be balanced and enjoy the game, enjoy the crowd, the fans’ love and everything. I think it’s incredible that we can put our efforts into it.

Losing Captain, Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants):

(on the score of 220 at the halfway stage) I think there are a few ways to look at it. In the middle overs and then in the last over, the way Archer bowled, I think it was really good. But we could have actually scored five or ten runs more on this kind of wicket when you get that kind of start, and we just couldn’t capitalize in the last over. (on defending a score on such a batting-friendly surface) It’s definitely a difficult one for sure because you always want to back your bowlers, but sometimes it’s hard. On a wicket like this, there is less margin for the bowlers and having too many suggestions doesn’t work out. Sometimes you have to keep a simple plan, keep focusing one ball at a time and just try to execute the plan. (on the value of experience and missing Shami) Experience is something you’re always going to miss regardless of whether things go good or bad because experience can’t be earned overnight. It takes years for people to gain that experience and definitely in pressure situations, that is one thing which keeps you ahead for sure. (on holding back Shahbaz Ahmed until the final over) Definitely because of the left-handers. They had been batting for a brief period of time and exposing a left-arm spinner, we didn’t want that, especially because Rathi was there in the side, so why take a chance on Shahbaz when Rathi is there in the side. (on the team despite the results) Like I said, we are proud as a team regardless of what our situation is right now. The kind of team we have, we know we can win this. Regardless of anything, we are confident enough as a team and as individuals. It hasn’t gone our way and everyone knows that, but that doesn’t take away the fact that we are a good team.