In a match that will be talked about for years, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the most breathtaking innings in IPL 2026 to power Rajasthan Royals to a stunning 7-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on May 19. His 93 off just 38 balls — the Player of the Match award — set the home crowd alight and made light work of a daunting 221-run chase, which RR completed in just 19.1 overs with 5 balls to spare.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh had threatened to make the game one-sided in LSG's favour with another brilliant knock of 77, backed by Josh Inglis's blazing 50 off 23, as LSG posted 220/5 on the back of a historic powerplay. But in Jaipur on this evening, Sooryavanshi was the only story that mattered.
Lucknow Super Giants Innings: 220/5 in 20.0 Overs
Lucknow Super Giants came out with intent and produced one of the great powerplay performances of IPL 2026. Their opening six overs yielded an extraordinary 83 runs without loss — a powerplay total that set the pulse racing at Sawai Mansingh.
Josh Inglis was the early aggressor. The first-wicket partnership raced to 50 in just 21 balls (Inglis 34, Marsh 15, extras 3), and Inglis brought up his fifty off just 23 balls — 6 fours and 3 sixes — in a blistering display of clean hitting. At the first strategic timeout (6 overs), LSG were a commanding 83/0, with Inglis on 49 and Marsh on 31.
The opening stand continued to flourish, reaching 100 in 48 balls (Marsh 46, Inglis 56, extras 3) as LSG crossed the 100-run mark in 7.6 overs. Shortly after, Mitchell Marsh brought up his fifty off 25 balls — 5 fours and 4 sixes — his second successive powerhouse half-century in as many LSG matches, underlining his form as one of the tournament's premier batters.
LSG passed 150 in 12.1 overs (73 balls), and at the second strategic timeout (16 overs) stood at 182/2 — Marsh on a superb 77 and Rishabh Pant on 17, with the third-wicket stand between them already producing 50 runs in 35 balls (Marsh 22, Pant 27, extras 4). The 200-run mark was breached in 17.5 overs (108 balls).
The death overs were eventful. Rajasthan brought in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an impact player substitute for Yash Raj Punja in over 17.6 — an attacking bowling change. LSG's over 19 was a review circus: Marsh challenged a wide (struck down), RR challenged a wicket against Marsh (struck down), and Marsh reviewed a no-ball (also struck down) — three reviews in the same over, all unsuccessful. A slow over-rate penalty also applied across overs 19.1–19.6, forcing an extra fielder inside the circle.
LSG closed on 220/5 in 20 overs, Abdul Samad on 0 at the crease. A total of this magnitude looked formidable — but it hadn't reckoned with what was coming.
LSG Impact Player Subs used: Digvesh Rathi (in for Josh Inglis, LSG innings over 19.6), Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni.
Rajasthan Royals Innings: 225/3 in 19.1 Overs (Target: 221)
What followed was a chase for the ages.
RR's powerplay was electric — 71 runs without loss in 6 overs, built on the back of a Yashasvi Jaiswal blitz and early signs of a special innings from Sooryavanshi. RR reached 50 in 4.2 overs (26 balls), with the first-wicket stand contributing 50 in 26 balls (Jaiswal 38, Sooryavanshi 5, extras 7). At the first strategic timeout (6 overs), the scoreboard read 71/0 — Jaiswal on 39, Sooryavanshi on 25 and already starting to find his stride.
RR crossed 100 in 8.5 overs (53 balls), and it was at this point that Sooryavanshi shifted into a completely different gear. His fifty came off just 23 balls — 6 fours and 4 sixes — an astonishing milestone that drew gasps from the Jaipur crowd and sent a clear message to LSG's bowlers.
After Jaiswal's departure, DC Jurel joined Sooryavanshi and the pair put on a second-wicket stand of 50 in 24 balls (Sooryavanshi 33, Jurel 14, extras 3) as RR flew past 150 in 11.3 overs (69 balls). The partnership then extended to 100 in just 39 balls (Sooryavanshi 67, Jurel 32, extras 3) — a partnership of stunning efficiency on both ends.
At the second strategic timeout (15 overs), RR were 188/2 — well ahead of the required rate. Jurel reached his fifty off 37 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) as the chase entered its final stretch. LSG attempted a wicket review in over 16.3 against D Ferreira (struck down), reflecting growing desperation. RR crossed 200 in 16.5 overs (101 balls).
A slow over-rate penalty in overs 19.1–19.6 also applied to RR, but by then it was entirely academic. Needing just 21 off the final 4 overs with 7 wickets in hand, RR wrapped up the chase in the first ball of the 20th over — finishing at 225/3 in 19.1 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 5 balls remaining.
RR Impact Player Subs used: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (in for Yash Raj Punja, over 17.6), Yudhvir Singh, Aman Rao, Ravi Bishnoi, Riyan Parag.
Key Performances at a Glance
| Player | Team | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ? | RR | 93 off 38 balls (6×4, 4×6+) — Player of the Match |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 39, explosive powerplay anchor |
| DC Jurel | RR | 50 off 37 balls (3×4, 3×6), 100-run stand with Sooryavanshi |
| Mitchell Marsh | LSG | 77, third successive dominant innings |
| Josh Inglis | LSG | 50 off 23 balls (6×4, 3×6), powerplay destroyer |
Result
Rajasthan Royals won by 7 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Chasing 221, RR finished at 225/3 in 19.1 overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 93 off 38 was the defining innings — an electrifying knock that ranks among the finest of IPL 2026. For LSG, Marsh and Inglis gave them every reason to believe their 220/5 was enough, but on this evening in Jaipur, no total was going to be sufficient once Sooryavanshi got going.