Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in Ahmedabad despite Rajasthan Royals missing the IPL Final

While the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans will dominate the headlines in Ahmedabad, one player from a non-finalist team is also expected to be among the biggest attractions at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night.

At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has produced one of the most extraordinary individual seasons in IPL history and is set to sweep multiple awards at the end of the tournament.

Representing Rajasthan Royals, the teenage sensation finished IPL 2026 with a staggering 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.31. He heads into the final as the Orange Cap leader, the tournament's leading six-hitter and the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award.

Sooryavanshi smashed a record-breaking 72 sixes during the season, surpassing the long-standing mark of 59 set by Chris Gayle. The numbers become even more remarkable when viewed through the lens of efficiency. Gayle struck a six every 7.73 balls during his famous 2012 campaign, while Sooryavanshi cleared the ropes once every 4.31 deliveries this season.

His campaign was built on fearless aggression. He came agonisingly close to breaking Gayle's record for the fastest IPL hundred. During Rajasthan's final league match, he needed a six off his 29th ball to get there but was caught at third man before reaching the landmark.

Defending champions RCB enter the final with momentum and the advantage of a three-day break. Their batting depth has been their greatest strength, with contributions coming from players such as Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya and Venkatesh Iyer. They have crossed the 200-run mark nine times this season and remain favourites to become only the third team to successfully defend an IPL title.

GT, meanwhile, have battled their way back after an inconsistent start. Led by Shubman Gill and powered by the prolific opening partnership of Gill and Sai Sudharsan, they have relied heavily on their top order. The mid-season arrival of Jason Holder also proved crucial, with the West Indian taking 17 wickets in just 10 matches.

Yet regardless of who lifts the trophy on Sunday night, Sooryavanshi is almost certain to be one of the biggest winners of IPL 2026. The teenager has not only topped the run charts and rewritten six-hitting records but has also established himself as one of the most exciting talents the tournament has ever seen. With several awards expected to come his way in Ahmedabad, this could simply be the first chapter of a remarkable IPL journey.