Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi revealed that scoring 700 runs in IPL 2026 was a goal he had set for himself even before the tournament began. The 15-year-old, who enjoyed a record-breaking season, said he had written the target down in his phone notes and tracked his progress after every match.
Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final, Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season after dominating the individual awards.
The teenager finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 776 runs and won the Orange Cap. He was also named the Most Valuable Player and Emerging Player of the Season. In addition, he picked up the Super Striker award for his strike rate of 237.31 and the Super Sixes award after smashing a record 72 sixes during the campaign.
Speaking in a video shared by the IPL on social media, the 15-year-old Bihar lad explained how he had planned his season in advance.
“Actually, in my phone notes, I mentioned that I wanted to score 700 runs in the IPL. I still have it in my phone. After every match, I was mentioning the score below and the team I was playing against. That was my personal goal, and I achieved it,” he said.
The young batter said winning the Orange Cap was something he had often imagined while watching IPL matches on television.
“It feels good when I watch matches on TV. I used to see that a player got an Orange Cap. Even I used to think that at least I should touch it and see how it is. But God has done all this for me. He has given me a lot of blessings, and I am very grateful for this. It is a proud moment for me personally and for my family,” Sooryavanshi said.
Despite his success, the Royals batter said his focus remains on helping the franchise go one step further next season.
“This year we made a very good comeback. Hopefully, next year we will play the final and win it. Personally, I am very happy that I achieved a lot and learned a lot. I will try to carry this forward next year,” he added.
Sooryavanshi also praised the IPL for giving young and domestic players a platform to showcase their abilities. “I would like to thank the entire BCCI. The IPL is the number one league in the world of cricket without any doubt. It is a very good platform for youngsters and domestic players to show their talent,” he said.
Sharing his long-term ambitions in the game, the teenager said, “I want to play in the IPL for as long as possible. I want to represent India for a long time. I want to achieve a lot for myself and my family. Whether it is domestic cricket, IPL or India, I want to contribute to every team that I play for”.