-Rajasthan Royals’ Young Batter Breaks Multiple Records; Jofra Archer Strengthens Position in Purple Cap Race
New Delhi, May 28 (H.S.): Rajasthan Royals’ young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi claimed the Orange Cap after producing a blistering performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Wednesday night. His explosive innings played a crucial role in helping Rajasthan secure a place in Qualifier 2.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a sensational 97 runs off just 29 balls during the match. The innings included 12 sixes, allowing him to surpass Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes hit in a single IPL season.
Sooryavanshi also came close to breaking the record for the fastest century in IPL history. The record is currently held by Chris Gayle, who reached his hundred in just 30 balls.
With this remarkable knock, Sooryavanshi has now become the highest run-scorer of IPL 2026. He has accumulated 680 runs this season, overtaking Gujarat Titans batter B. Sai Sudharsan, who has scored 652 runs.
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill remains in third place on the list, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli is placed sixth with 600 runs.
Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel also played a quickfire innings of 50 runs off 21 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Following this performance, he has moved to 11th position in the standings with 508 runs this season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s star batters Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma also concluded impressive campaigns. Klaasen finished fourth with 624 runs, Ishan Kishan fifth with 602 runs, and Abhishek Sharma eighth with 563 runs.
Archer Makes Strong Comeback in Purple Cap Race
Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Jofra Archer has also made the Purple Cap race increasingly exciting with outstanding performances in the last two matches.
Against Mumbai Indians, Archer claimed 3 wickets for 17 runs, while against Sunrisers Hyderabad he picked up three crucial wickets despite conceding 58 runs. Significantly, he dismissed dangerous batters Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma during the powerplay overs.
Archer now has 24 wickets this season and remains firmly in contention for the Purple Cap.
However, two bowlers are still ahead of him — Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada, both of whom have taken 26 wickets each this season.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
