Cricket News

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Interview Gate-Crashed by Justin Langer After RR vs LSG Heroics

Aditya Rao · 20/05/2026 · 4 min read

The Night Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Took Jaipur by Storm

Match number 64 of the IPL 2026 season will be remembered as the night a star was officially born. In a high-stakes, must-win encounter for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played an innings for the ages. Chasing a colossal target of 221 runs set by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the young left-hander took the game by the scruff of the neck, blasting a jaw-dropping 93 runs off just 38 deliveries.

Sooryavanshi’s batting exhibition was a masterclass in fearless, modern-day T20 hitting. He dismantled the LSG bowling attack with absolute disdain, smashing seven cracking boundaries and a staggering ten towering sixes. His sensational knock earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award, but the highlights of his evening were far from over once the winning runs were hit.

The Moment Australian Legend Justin Langer Gate-Crashed the Prodigy

Following his match-winning heroics, Sooryavanshi was in the middle of a post-match interview with the official IPL website when an unexpected guest interrupted the proceedings. Lucknow Super Giants head coach and legendary Australian opening batter, Justin Langer, walked into the frame.

Rather than offering just a standard handshake, the former Australian coach showed ultimate respect to the teenage sensation by asking for a personal memento. Langer approached the young batsman and politely asked, “Can I get a photo together?”

A slightly star-struck but incredibly respectful Sooryavanshi quickly replied, “Yes sir, please.”

As the camera captured the heartwarming moment, Langer smiled warmly and told the young prodigy that the photo would hold a special place in his collection. “I am going to treasure that photo. Good luck for your career,” Langer said, offering his blessings to the 15-year-old marvel.

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A Record-Breaking Spree in IPL 2026

Beyond the heartwarming interaction with Langer, Sooryavanshi’s 93-run blitzkrieg shattered several long-standing tournament records. With this stellar knock, the young opener crossed the 500-run milestone in the ongoing tournament. He is currently sitting on an incredible tally of 579 runs in just 13 innings, maintaining a spectacular average of 44.53 and an astonishing strike rate of 236.32.

Through this achievement, Sooryavanshi wrote his name into the history books in two major ways:

Youngest to 500 Runs: He became the youngest cricketer in IPL history to score 500 runs in a single edition of the tournament, surpassing the previous record held by Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
Indian Six-Hitting Record: His ten sixes during the match took his tournament tally to 43 maximums, making him the leading six-hitter by any Indian batter in a single IPL season.

How the RR vs LSG High-Scoring Thriller Panned Out

Earlier in the evening, the Lucknow Super Giants posted a formidable total of 220/5 after being asked to bat first. LSG’s innings was powered by a monumental 109-run opening stand between Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis in just 8.2 overs. Inglis set the tone with a rapid 60 off 29 balls, while Marsh continued the onslaught to smash 96 runs off 57 balls, laced with 11 boundaries and five sixes.

Faced with a steep run chase, Rajasthan Royals needed a miraculous start, and Sooryavanshi provided exactly that. Alongside the teenager’s explosive 93, Dhruv Jurel played a perfectly paced anchor role at number three, finishing unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls. The Royals comfortably chased down the target, finishing at 224/3 with five balls to spare to secure a crucial seven-wicket victory.

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Humility and the Road Ahead for Rajasthan Royals

Despite the immense spotlight and praise from international legends, Sooryavanshi remained grounded. Following the conclusion of Rajasthan Royals’ final home match of the season at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the youngster made it a point to interact with and thank the ground staff for their hard work throughout the IPL 2026 campaign.

This crucial victory keeps the Rajasthan Royals firmly in the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs. To secure their spot in the next round, the Royals will now travel to Mumbai to face the Mumbai Indians in their final league match on May 24.

Watch the full interaction and the young sensation in action here:

Aditya Rao

Aditya Rao is a senior cricket correspondent for Hindustan Times, known for his unflinching deep dives into the corridors of Indian cricket governance and the forgotten tiers of the domestic game. A graduate of Jamia Millia Islamia and a trained investigative journalist, Aditya brings a policy-level rigour rarely seen on the sports pages. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between the Test match purist and the systemic realities of the modern game—covering everything from Ranji Trophy structural reforms to the economics of player development in India’s hinterlands. He has broken several major stories on administrative overhauls and has profiled dozens of unsung players from India’s age‑group pathways. A recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award and a trusted voice for accountability in sport, Aditya continues to write with a belief that a robust cricketing culture depends as much on sound governance as it does on a solid cover drive.