New Delhi: A low-key outing with the bat cannot stop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from writing history as the teenage star rajasthan royalsThe team defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday.The 15-year-old opener scored just eight from 11 balls in a low-scoring game at the Ekana Stadium, but his brief stay was historic. Sooryavanshi became the youngest player ever to reach 500 IPL runs, surpassing Prithvi Shaw (19 years and 164 days), and the fastest player to reach the batting milestone in just 227 deliveries, 33 fewer than the previous record holder, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell.Records plummet despite poor performanceAt just 15 years and 26 days old, Sooryavanshi continues to redefine early success in the IPL. Former RR captain Sanju Samson (19 years and 195 days) has now slipped to third place in the list of youngest 500-run players. Despite Wednesday’s quiet game, the youngster still emerged as RR’s top scorer this season with 254 runs, including two 50s off just 15 balls, tied for the third-fastest in league history.Overall, Sooryavanshi’s statistics underline his impact: 506 runs in 14 games at an average of 36.14 and a staggering strike rate of over 213. He cemented his reputation last season with a 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans – the fastest Indian run-scorer in IPL history and the second-fastest overall.Ravindra Jadeja shines as RR bounces backWhile Sooryavanshi broke the record, Ravindra Jadeja sealed the win with a crucial all-round performance. His unbeaten run of 43, coupled with a crucial wicket, earned him the Man of the Match award, which he dedicated to his wife Rivaba Jadeja.Jadeja admitted that the pitch was tricky, with seams and swings making batting difficult, prompting him to adopt a patient approach. With the ball in hand, he changed pace deftly and even joked that he had “got in his pocket” after outsmarting Nicholas Pooran.RR captain Riyan Parag felt his team was slightly lacking with the bat, suggesting the total could be closer to 180. However, the bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, ensured that the target was more than adequate.The win lifted Rajasthan Royals to second place in the points table, while Lucknow Supergiants remain close to the bottom.
