Rajasthan Royals finished third in the IPL 2026 season, coming out of the disappointing 2025 season with renewed consistency and firepower, in a remarkable turnaround. The team, which were not in a winning streak last season, had a great start this season with four consecutive wins and a dramatic 30-run win against Mumbai Indians on the last day of the league.
They had just continued their run as they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator before narrowly coming up short in the Qualifier 2, where they posted a competitive total against Gujarat Titans to miss out of the final. Even with their departure, one of the most notable stories of the season was RR’s huge comeback!
Their campaign was driven by their season of the ages by the 15-year-old superstar batsman, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He scored 776 runs on 16 matches with a whopping strike rate of 238, that includes 63 fours and 72 sixes. He was one of the most explosive batters in the tournament because he was able to consistently hit the boundaries.
Vaiibhav Sooryavanshi was at his best throughout the game, making a presence in the Powerplay and death overs, sometimes at an increasing rate as the game went on. Some of his performances were considered “historic” or “game-breaking” because of their match-defining aspect.
He never had great form, but his impact has been significant and that is why he is one of the biggest controversies and also one of the most talked-about young talents in the upcoming IPL 2026 and played a key role in the RR’s deep playoff run.