Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named Emerging Player of IPL 2026 Season

AHMEDABAD, India, June 1 (ANI) — Rising cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated the individual honors at the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, earning the Emerging Player of the Season award along with several other major accolades.

The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter was also named the Most Valuable Player, Super Striker of the Season, Orange Cap winner, and Super Sixes of the Season award recipient.

The Bihar-born prodigy enjoyed a remarkable campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 776 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 237.30.

Sooryavanshi’s consistent performances, highlighted by a record-breaking 72 sixes, helped him surpass several longstanding IPL milestones and establish himself as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young talents.

At 15 years and 65 days old, he became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap. The previous record was held by Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan, who won the award at 23 years and 231 days in 2025. Before that, Shubman Gill had held the distinction at 23 years and 263 days in 2023.

Sooryavanshi narrowly missed equaling Virat Kohli’s record of four centuries in a single IPL season. In addition to scoring a century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he was dismissed in the 90s on three occasions — 93 against Lucknow Super Giants, 97 in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and 96 in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.

He also became the fastest player to reach 1,000 IPL runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the milestone in just 440 deliveries and surpassing the previous mark held by West Indies star Andre Russell.

In terms of innings played, Sooryavanshi became the second-fastest batter to reach 1,000 IPL runs, accomplishing the feat in 23 innings. Shaun Marsh remains the record-holder, having reached the milestone in 21 innings.

“It feels good, but I feel a bit under pressure having to give the interview. I am not drinking milk nowadays. How to play each game, you can’t play every game the same way. If I have to stay injury-free, I have to work on my fitness. Everyone is very supportive. All senior players, support staff, everyone backs me, and it’s a good atmosphere,” Sooryavanshi said after receiving the Most Valuable Player award.

In the IPL 2026 final, Gujarat Titans were restricted to 155/8 after being put in to bat by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 50 off 37 balls, while Nishant Sindhu contributed 20 runs from 18 deliveries. Rasikh Dar Salam claimed 3/27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each for RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their chase strongly with a 62-run opening partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli. Iyer scored 32 off 16 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.

Although Gujarat Titans fought back to reduce RCB to 132/5, Kohli anchored the innings with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, striking nine fours and three sixes, to guide his team to victory with two overs remaining.

The triumph secured Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s second IPL title and their fourth major franchise cricket championship overall, including two Women’s Premier League titles. (ANI)