Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a remarkable 93 to lead Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on May 19, keeping their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive in a high-scoring encounter.
Chasing 221, the teenage batter’s explosive innings of 93 from 38 balls, featuring 10 sixes, overshadowed Mitchell Marsh’s 96 earlier in the match. Dhruv Jurel then finished the chase with an unbeaten 53 off 38 balls as Rajasthan reached the target with five balls remaining.
Sooryavanshi Leads the Chase
Rajasthan’s pursuit began with Sooryavanshi taking time to settle, reaching 11 from 12 deliveries. While Yashasvi Jaiswal dominated the early overs, Sooryavanshi shifted gears in the ninth over, targeting Akash Singh with two sixes and three fours.
From there, he accelerated rapidly, reaching his half-century off 23 balls and continuing his six-hitting display. By the time he was dismissed for 93 in the 14th over, he had taken his season tally of sixes to 53.
Jurel then anchored the closing stages alongside Donovan Ferreira, guiding Rajasthan home comfortably.
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Marsh and Inglis Set the Platform
Earlier, Lucknow made a strong start through Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis. The pair attacked from the outset, with Marsh taking on Jofra Archer in the opening over.
Inglis was particularly effective square of the wicket, and together they powered LSG to 83 without loss in the powerplay. Inglis eventually fell for 60 off 29 balls, ending a 109-run opening stand.
Punja Turns the Momentum
Yash Raj Punja played a key role in shifting the momentum for Rajasthan. He dismissed Inglis with a wrong’un and later removed Nicholas Pooran, finishing with figures of 2 for 35.
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His spell triggered a slowdown in scoring, with LSG going through a phase without boundaries.
Marsh Slows After Fast Start
Marsh brought up his half-century in 25 balls but struggled to maintain the same scoring rate in the latter stages. He added only 43 runs from his next 32 deliveries as Rajasthan’s bowlers applied pressure.
“To be honest, felt like torture out there,” Marsh said, reflecting on the latter part of his innings.
In the final over, Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni were all dismissed by Archer, limiting LSG’s late acceleration.
Jaiswal Sets Early Momentum
Rajasthan’s chase was initially driven by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 39 of the team’s 71 powerplay runs. His aggressive approach, including four boundaries in a single over off Akash Singh, ensured a strong start.
Sooryavanshi Takes Control
By the end of the powerplay, Sooryavanshi had moved to 25 from 16 balls before accelerating. He attacked both Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav with consecutive sixes, showcasing his range of shots.
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Although he fell attempting another maximum, his innings had already put Rajasthan firmly in control of the chase.
What’s Next
Lucknow Super Giants, already out of contention, will play their last match of the season against Punjab Kings on May 23. Rajasthan Royals now face Mumbai Indians in their final league match on May 24, with qualification still in their own hands.
