Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been making batting look deceptively simple, according to teammate Dhruv Jurel, following the youngster’s commanding performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Jurel highlighted how Vaibhav’s batting brilliance does not add pressure on other batters but instead boosts their confidence.

Sooryavanshi turned the IPL match on April 10 into a spectacle with a fearless 78 off 26 balls, helping Rajasthan Royals chase down a challenging target of 202 with six wickets to spare. His 15-ball half-century, featuring eight fours and seven sixes, was instrumental in sealing the victory as the Royals finished the chase in 18 overs.

IPL 2026, RR vs RCB: Scorecard | Highlights

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jurel revealed how the rest of the RR batting unit feel a rise in condifence after watching Vaibhav bat the way he does.

“When I bat at number three, he makes it look really easy. You walk in and Vaibhav is smashing every ball, so you start to feel like nothing is happening on the wicket. But inside, you know cricket isn’t as easy as he’s making it look. We were around 65–70 after five overs, and in the sixth over, when Abhinandan was bowling to me. At that point, I was just telling myself I had to cash in, make it count. But yeah, from the other end, the way he bats is phenomenal,” Jurel said.

“When you walk in, he’s making it look so easy that there’s this pressure as well—you feel like, ‘He’s doing it, I need to do the same.’ At the same time, it also feels easier because you think the wicket is good if he’s batting like that. So it works both ways,” he added.

HOW VAIBHAV-JUREL WREAKED HAVOC VS RCB

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings was marked by both power and control. Having previously faced top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, he demonstrated similar authority against Josh Hazlewood. His strike rate of 229.44 this season, with 200 runs from four matches including two half-centuries, underlines his aggressive approach.

Alongside Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel’s fluent stroke play complemented the onslaught. The pair combined for a 97-run powerplay stand, the highest of the IPL season so far, effectively dismantling RCB’s bowling attack early on. Jurel’s quick hands and ability to manipulate the field through wrist work were key features of his innings, which ended unbeaten on 76 off 36 balls.

Following the loss of a few wickets, Jurel partnered with Ravindra Jadeja for a 68-run fifth-wicket stand that ensured a comfortable finish for Rajasthan Royals. The duo’s composure under pressure consolidated the team’s position and confirmed the win.

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The drama just won’t end when it comes to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026. The 11th edition of the T20 tournament has seen it all – ball tampering scandal, players being reprimanded for breaching security protocols and whatnot. The latest flashpoint occurred during the fixture between Quetta Gladiators and Rawalpindiz at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday. The incident happened in the ninth over of the latter’s chase when middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell took offence to Usman Tariq repeatedly pausing in his action.

The senior New Zealand batter was clearly not pleased with Tariq’s pause, and hence he backed away twice and refused to face the spinner. In his very own way, Mitchell protested against the bowler’s unique pause before delivering the ball.

The ninth over saw Tariq approach the crease and perform his trademark stutter, halting his momentum before releasing the ball. However, Mitchell was having none of it, and he stepped away from his stumps twice, signalling to the umpire that he wasn’t ready to face the delivery.

“Can he withdraw from his action? I think the umpires have to sort this out. And I think he’s got to be ready. Daryl Mitchell has got to be better than that,” said Raja.

Tariq is not new to controversy. Earlier during the T20 World Cup 2026, pauses in his bowling action became a major talking point, and several pundits debated whether his action was legal.

He stated that the batters are well within their rights to withdraw if they are confused by the pause in Tariq’s action. It is worth noting that Tariq was cleared by the ICC twice, and no issues were found with his bowling action.

Speaking of the game between Quetta and Pindiz, the former came out on top by 61 runs after defending 182/6. Tariq just gave away 23 runs in his quota of four overs, dismissing Abdullah Fazal and Mubasir Khan. Saud Shakeel and Jahandad Khan also scalped two wickets each as Pindiz were bowled out for 121.

Mukul Choudhary (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Calm under pressure and fearless at the death, Mukul Choudhary lit up Eden Gardens with a 27-ball 57, launching seven sixes to script a remarkable last-over win for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.The emotions were written all over the 21-year-old from Jhunjhunu’s face as he struck the winning runs – holding his nerve, battling anxiety, negotiating yorkers in the final over from Vaibhav Arora, waiting for the right ball to send over the ropes, and then raising both arms in celebration before his teammates sprinted in from the dugout to mob him.That six-hitting IPL night, however, is backed by an even bigger story of preparation. This wasn’t the first time the youngster from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan had taken bowlers apart. Long before making headlines in the IPL, he had already smashed an incredible 36 sixes in an innings.

36 SIXES IN AN INNINGS

In Sikar (Jhunjhunu), where Mukul trains, he practices on black soil. Adjusting to red-soil wickets, however, became a major challenge. That’s when he turned to his Under-23 batting coach Chandrapal Singh. In Rajasthan, red-soil pitches are found in Udaipur and Nathdwara. The distance was daunting, but an adamant Mukul embraced the challenge.Packing his kit at night, he would board a bus to Udaipur (in Rajasthan) – and sometimes Nathdwara (in Rajasthan) – both nearly 500 km from Jhunjhunu.“Mukul is extremely hardworking. I didn’t know if he would agree to it, but he accepted the challenge despite all the travel. He had to cover long distances – it’s not easy to travel 500 km by bus, play a match, stay overnight, and then return. He did this almost three times a week,” Chandrapal told TimesofIndia.com. “He once hit 36 sixes in a T20 match. We had called up a couple of teams, and Mukul’s side was up against them. I knew he would play a big knock, but I didn’t expect him to set things on fire the way he did. He was hitting the ball brutally. He has also practiced MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot,” Chandrapal said.“You will find red soil in places like Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Cuttack and Karnataka. The way he stepped out of his comfort zone to prepare for this IPL is remarkable. He is a complete team man—team always comes first for him,” he added.Mukul enjoyed an impressive run in domestic cricket.After making a mark at the Under-23 level, he scored 173 runs in five innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26 at a striking rate of 198.85. His superb form with the bat earned him an IPL contract, with Lucknow Super Giants picking him up for Rs 2.60 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.

MUKUL CHOUDHARY: NOT JUST ANOTHER HITTER

For the 21-year-old, the ability to clear the ropes with ease – from bat swing to footwork, reach, and reading the situation – has not come overnight.“I have practised that shot since childhood,” Mukul had said during the post-match press conference after pulling off the heist.“My body is naturally a bit powerful, and that has helped me. I also practise hitting 100–150 sixes every day, so the bat speed develops if you keep repeating it. I have been training hard for the last five to six months, and it has now become part of my game,” he had said.After the match, LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who had looked tense until the final delivery, appeared visibly relieved. A broad smile spread across his face as he walked up to hug Mukul.For Chandrapal, Mukul has always been a player who puts the team above everything else.“More than just a classy batter, he is a brilliant team man. His first priority is always the team. I noticed this when he first came to me. In every situation, he would ask, ‘Sir, how can I help the team win?’ That attitude has made him special and brought him this far,” he said.“We have seen players like Russell and Pollard, who are physically very strong hitters. He is similar in that sense. He has that kind of muscular build and a very different mindset. If he has to hit 100 sixes in a day, he can do it comfortably,” added Chandrapal.

ULTIMATE DREAM – MEETING DHONI

Among his seven sixes against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday night, one stood out – a Dhoni-esque helicopter shot that sent the Eden Gardens crowd into a deafening roar. The entire LSG dugout, including Rishabh Pant, was left stunned.Lucknow Super Giants now will next face Chennai Super Kings on May 10 and for Mukul Choudhary, he will not just be riding on the high of his incredible innings, he will be looking forward to meeting his idol MS Dhoni. “I always look up to MS Dhoni because I am also a finisher. I always look up to him. His helicopter shot, which is very iconic, is my favourite. The way he led India in the 2011 World Cup, everybody remembers it. I want to be like him and finish off matches and help my team win,” Mukul had said on JioHotstar after the game.

Lucknow Super Giants will next face Chennai Super Kings on May 10.

Before that, their schedule is packed: they take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 15, Punjab Kings on April 19, Rajasthan Royals on April 22, Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26, Mumbai Indians on May 4, and once again Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 7.