IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi, 15, hits 36-ball ton but Royals lose to SRH

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck an explosive 36-ball century – the 15-year-old’s second in the Indian Premier League – but it was not enough to prevent Rajasthan Royals slipping to a defeat by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

It is the third fastest IPL hundred after his own 35-ball effort last season, when he became the youngest centurion in men’s Twenty20 cricket, and Chris Gayle’s 30-ball onslaught for Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru) in 2013.

The teenager is also the fastest to reach 1,000 T20 runs – taking only 473 balls to reach the mark, quicker than Australian duo Mitchell Owen (533) and Andrew Symonds (558).

Sooryavanshi plundered four consecutive sixes against Praful Hinge in the opening over before clearing the rope three more times to race to a half-century in only 15 balls. He reached his ton with his 12th six in the 15th over, but fell to Sakib Hussain the following ball.

However, with the rest of the Rajasthan batters and extras contributing only 125 off 83 balls, 228-6 proved not enough to secure a home victory, as Hyderabad cruised to a five-wicket victory.

There was also concern for the home side when Sooryavanshi appeared to pull up while fielding at the start of Hyderabad’s chase, and limped off the field for treatment.

England seamer Jofra Archer gave Rajasthan a strong start by dismissing Hyderabad’s Australia opener Travis Head in the first over of the chase.

But Abhishek Sharma (47) and Ishan Kishan (74) then took control to steer Hyderabad to the win, reaching their target with nine balls to spare – making it the fourth highest successful chase in IPL history.

With their fourth consecutive victory, they move level on 10 points with Rajasthan and Bengaluru, with the trio three points behind leaders Punjab Kings. (BBC)