Qualifier 2: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stands between Gujarat Titans & IPL 2026 Final

A 15-year-old stands between Gujarat Titans (GT) setting up a rematch against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final. Gujarat were handily beaten by Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 and must go through the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Defeating Rajasthan is easier said than done. RR have the biggest weapon in T20 cricket at the moment in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager was expected to stumble and experience second-season blues. But the prodigy he is, Sooryavanshi has been the best batter of IPL 2026.

He holds the orange cap. Smashed the third-fastest hundred of the tournament earlier in the season. In the last game, the Eliminator against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sooryavanshi smashed 97 off 29 in Mullanpur, the venue of Qualifier 2. To go through Rajasthan, Gujarat has to first somehow tackle the 15-year-old.

Try spin & left-arm pace

Hyderabad tried that. They started with yorkers and low full tosses. His backlift restricts him against balls right under his eyes. But Sooryavanshi came out on top. The moment the bowlers erred and went shorter, the ball disappeared into the stands. Gujarat needs to concoct a plan to restrict him.

A simple deep dive into Sooryavanshi’s numbers in IPL 2026, one sees that spin might work against the teenager. The sample sizes too. Primarily because teams fear bowling spin nowadays. But you have to be brave to win. Left-arm pace, which Gujarat has, might work as well.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs all bowling types in IPL 2026

Sooryavanshi has faced Gujarat twice this season. His returns haven’t been bad: 31 (18) and 36 (16). But, considering his standards in IPL, it isn’t exceptional. His season average (45.33) and strike rate (242.85) both decreased against Gujarat, to 33.50 and 197.05. So, Gujarat has done something that’s worked.

Go hard in the powerplay

A look above would show that leg spin has got him out. That was GT’s Rashid Khan, who sent him back on the first ball. But it’s clear that Sooryavanshi faces more dot balls against spinners. It’s a way to restrict and force an error out of him. It’s out of the box, but Gujarat can use Arshad Khan, who didn’t play the last game, or Kulwant Khejroliya.

Similar to spin, Sooryavanshi’s dot percentage is higher against left-arm fast bowlers. Arshad and Khejroliya get swing, so instead of going with Kagiso Rabada or Mohammed Siraj, either of them can be called early on. Gujarat can also throw the ball to Washington Sundar.

The off-spinner hasn’t bowled much in IPL 2026, just 7.1 overs. But he matches up well against Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the other RR opener. Then, you have the option to try Rashid, who has gotten him out. GT have to decide which strategy they believe is the best.

Mind you, Sooryavanshi hasn’t faced Washington or Arshad or Khejroliya. Even Rashid has bowled one ball at him. It’s especially necessary to go hard at him in the powerplay. Because against Hyderabad, he was already 60 off 20 after the 6-over mark and had scored 97 by the end of the 8th over. Deferring risk will do more harm than good.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs GT bowlers in IPL 2026

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