Kamal Ghorui
After the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, former RR star Jos Buttler once again won hearts with a touching gesture towards teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi by gifting him his bat after the match.Vaibhav has emerged as one of the standout performers of IPL 2026 with his fearless batting for Rajasthan Royals. Even Rajasthan Royals lost against Gujarat Titans, the 15-year-old dazzled with a quickfire 36 off just 16 balls at a strike rate of 225, smashing three fours and three sixes.
This was not the first heartwarming interaction between Buttler and the youngster this season. Earlier during their first meeting, the England star was seen sharing an emotional moment with Vaibhav, where he showered praise on the teenager and described him as the best batter he had seen at that age.“I said don’t get him too excited, but he’s the best player I’ve ever seen at this age. Imagine where he’ll be at 21 or 25, the world at his feet. He’s so good to watch,” Buttler had said in a video shared by Rajasthan Royals.He had also praised Vaibhav’s fearless approach and reminded him of his stunning performances during the Under-19 World Cup.“You broke English hearts in the U19 World Cup. It’s awesome. You’re playing so well, keep it up. That freedom is amazing to watch,” Buttler added.Now, after their latest encounter, Buttler once again showed his admiration for the young prodigy by gifting him his bat, highlighted the growing respect Vaibhav has already earned from some of the biggest names in world cricket.
GT Outclassed RR
The Titans produced a complete all-round performance to register a commanding 77-run victory on May 9, 2026. Batting first, GT posted a massive 229/4 in 20 overs, their highest total of the season.Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a brilliant 84 off 44 balls, while Sai Sudharsan contributed 55 as the pair stitched together a dominant 118-run opening stand. Washington Sundar then provided a strong finish with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls.In reply, RR began aggressively thanks to attacking cameos from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed 36 off just 16 balls, and Dhruv Jurel, who added 24 off 10 deliveries. However, Rashid Khan completely changed the momentum with his middle-over spell as RR collapsed from a promising position to 152 all out in just 16.3 overs.Jason Holder also played a key role with the ball, while GT’s disciplined bowling unit ensured the chase never recovered after Rashid’s breakthroughs.
