After the match, Sooryavanshi approached Kohli for his autograph. Known for his competitive spirit, Kohli responded with kindness and encouragement, leaving a heartfelt message on the Rajasthan Royals cap. “Dear Vaibhav, well done,” Kohli wrote.
Sooryavanshi, who dazzled in his debut season with a remarkable 35-ball century last year, has played just 11 matches in his IPL career and already leads this season’s run charts with 200 runs in four innings at an impressive strike rate of 266.6. He recorded his second fifty in just 15 balls of the season, having previously achieved this against Chennai Super Kings.
A job well done with a long road ahead! ???? pic.twitter.com/tymVTrdeqK
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 11, 2026
“We can’t believe how someone can hit like that. He is an incredible talent, and we are thrilled he is a part of our team,” said wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel.
Following his impressive performance against India’s Jasprit Bumrah earlier in the week, Sooryavanshi faced another significant challenge against Josh Hazlewood, smashing three fours and a six from the first four balls he encountered. Sooryavanshi and Jurel established a rapid start, reaching 97-1 in the powerplay before spinner Krunal Pandya interrupted their momentum.
Player of the Match ✅
Orange Cap ✅
An autograph from Kohli ????✅
Good night to everyone and remember to keep believing in yourself no matter what ???? pic.twitter.com/Up2BZuYObM— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 10, 2026
Rajasthan’s score slipped from 129-1 to 134-4 when Pandya dismissed Sooryavanshi, but Jurel steadied the innings with a composed 81 not out from 43 balls. “When you enter the game and see Vaibhav smashing every ball, it feels like the wicket is easy. But cricket isn’t as simple as he makes it look,” Jurel remarked.
The decisive 108-run partnership between Jurel and Sooryavanshi maintained Rajasthan’s unbeaten record at the top of the table, while RCB remains in third.
(With Reuters inputs)
