Sooryavanshi hits 93 as Rajasthan beat LSG, keep playoff hopes alive

Rajasthan Royals (RR) pulled off a sensational chase at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Tuesday, overhauling the 221-run target set by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with five balls to spare, riding on opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 93 and a composed yet explosive 53 not out from Dhruv Jurel in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in Jaipur.

In a match that swung between brute force and calculated composure, RR’s batters dismantled LSG’s attack and ensured there were no late stumbles as they jumped to fourth place in the points table, thereby keeping themselves alive in the playoff race.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already made the play-offs of the tournament that will conclude on May 31 in Ahmedabad.

Chasing 221, RR began in ruthless fashion. Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone immediately, carving and pulling Akash Singh for a string of boundaries in a 23-run opening over that set the tone for a powerplay dominated by the hosts.

The introduction of pace only fueled the aggression, with Sooryavanshi, playing yet another fearless knock, joining the assault with clean hitting over cover and mid-wicket, as RR raced to 84/1 in the first eight overs.

Jaiswal’s 43 off 23 balls ended when he edged Akash Maharaj Singh to Rishabh Pant, but by then the damage had been done. Sooryavanshi, despite a cautious start, dominated the middle overs, bringing up yet another rapid fifty in a season already defined by record-breaking strike rates. His innings of 93 off 38 balls, laced with 10 sixes, briefly placed RR in cruise control before Mohsin Khan dismissed him against the run of play.

The prodigy said he has cut out the noise surrounding his career.

“I don’t really see too much, I don’t read newspapers and all, so I don’t think too much about it,” said Sooryavanshi.

“I just think that this is only the start. If my career becomes long and I play for a long time, people will say many more things.

“My focus should just remain on the game and I should complete my journey.”

Sooryavanshi’s batting blitz trumped Lucknow opener Mitchell Marsh’s 96, a knock that steered his team to an imposing 220-5.

Even as LSG attempted to claw back through disciplined spells from Digvesh Singh Rathi and Mohsin, Jurel anchored the chase with remarkable calmness.

He rotated strike intelligently, punished loose deliveries, and ensured the required rate never spiralled out of control. His partnership-building with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and later Donovan Ferreira steadied RR after brief hiccups.

The match, however, was far from straightforward. LSG struck at crucial moments, Sooryavanshi fell just short of a century, while a dramatic 16th over saw a sharp run-out of Pretorius, injecting late tension into the chase.

Yet RR’s depth and composure held firm. With 33 needed off the last five overs, Jurel took charge, guiding RR through the final phase with controlled aggression. Ferreira provided a brief but vital hand before setting the stage for a composed finish.

The decisive moment arrived in the 19th over. With RR needing just two off the final delivery, Donovan Ferreira stepped out to Shahbaz Ahmed and launched a clean, authoritative six over long-off to seal the chase emphatically.

LSG’s bowling effort was undermined by inconsistency, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav showing flashes but lacking sustained control. Mohsin Khan (1/24) and Digvesh Singh Rathi offered resistance, but the total proved too small to defend against RR’s relentless top order.

Earlier, opening batter Mitchell Marsh fell just four runs short of a century, but his explosive 96, alongside Josh Inglis’ 60, powered Lucknow Super Giants to an imposing 220/5.

LSG’s top order dominated from the start, posting 83 without loss in the Powerplay. Marsh and Inglis brought up a 100-run partnership in just 7.6 overs, with Marsh punishing anything short or overpitched and Inglis using inventive shots to unsettle Rajasthan’s bowlers.

Yash Raj Punja finally broke the stand, dismissing Inglis for 60. Nicholas Pooran briefly maintained momentum but also fell to Punja, who finished with 2/35.

Marsh continued his assault, clearing the ropes at will, while Rishabh Pant added late fireworks, including a towering six over long-on and a cheeky scoop.

Agencies