Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in contention for most IPL awards after RCB’s Virat Kohli closes the 2026 season with a match-winning innings | Cricket news
In an IPL season where young superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has proven himself to be the next great cricketer, it was fitting that India’s current talent should sign off the campaign in style.
Sooryavanshi’s Rajasthan Royals failed to qualify for Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, but the 15-year-old walked away with several major awards after watching a Virat Kohli masterclass that inspired Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to another IPL title.
Kohli produced an unbeaten 75 in just 42 matches, including the fastest IPL half-century of his career, with the fan favorite completing a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans by hitting Arshad Khan for six.
RCB chased down their target of 156 with two overs to spare to successfully defend their title, a year on from their first win, although it was Sooryavanshi who still topped the scoring charts for each season.
Sooryavanshi became the first player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Young Player of the Year awards, following a campaign that saw him reclaim the Orange Cap after finishing as the league’s top scorer.
His 776 runs in 16 innings – at a strike rate of 237.30 – will be a huge target to hit for years to come, while Sooryavanshi also hit a record-breaking 72 sixes in a season that saw him miss the fastest century in IPL history.
Sooryavanshi’s campaign has been compared to Kohli’s 973-run season in 2016, with Kohli himself crediting the sport’s new stars for helping him continue to play on the biggest stage.
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Kohli scored 18 runs off four consecutive balls to put RCB in control, while scoring an unbeaten 75.
“Such is the need of the sport today, you have these young players who push you all the time and ask you to change your game and go higher,” Kohli said in his post-match interview.
“It’s a fun situation because it gives you something to improve on, something to work towards. I’m very proud of getting better and I’m just trying to find areas where I can improve.
“The demands of the modern game, where you need to get those 30 extra runs, meant I had to change my mindset – not so much my game – to hit more shots and get the team’s best bowlers in. I’m very happy that I was able to contribute to the team’s efforts.”
A single brings two to RCB’s ‘clinic’
The pursuit of silverware in sport has often been likened to the old saying about London buses, where you wait years for one to arrive before two appear at the same time.
Rory McIlroy’s surprise victory at The Masters to complete his career Grand Slam last April came in his 17th appearance at Augusta National, 11 years since his last major win, which saw him successfully defend the title earlier this year.
PSG’s penalty kick victory over Arsenal on Saturday saw them join Real Madrid as the only UEFA Champions League winners, having never won the trophy, while RCB enjoyed a similar rise in fortunes.
RCB have had runners-up finishes and many misses in their quest for a maiden IPL title but are now only the third team, behind Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020), to win back-to-back titles.
Will Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru enjoy more IPL success next year?
“There doesn’t seem to be any pressure like last year,” emphasized Kohli. “We knew what kind of talent we have in the team. We’re on top and there’s a reason why we came first.
“We said if we stick to our cricket, if we do our plans, we are the best team in the competition. There is a reason why we have done well so far.
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Barest of margins saves Kohli from a late scare in a close encounter between RCB and Gujarat Titans
“We ended up on top of the league and with the skills we have, the maturity and modesty of the boys has been seen again. It was a high level of life throughout the competition.”
The history of Kohli’s best run with RCB?
No player has won The Masters three years in a row and no team has claimed the Champions League three years running in the modern era, leaving McIlroy and PSG facing the same three-peat bid in 2027 that RCB will be eyeing.
Sooryavanshi is likely to be established in international cricket next season and has other IPL records in his sights, including stopping Kohli and RCB from claiming a hat-trick of titles.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made an amazing 96 runs after a masterclass knock during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans on May 29.
“I think the franchise is well put together,” RCB’s Josh Hazlewood said. “Not just the players, but I think the support staff – it’s a great free spirit to try to play top cricket and do well.
“I think it’s hard to build that culture so quickly when the team changes a little bit every three years, but it feels like we have that now. Obviously winning helps, but it feels like the team is strong and we’re playing for someone other than ourselves all the time.
“Three-peat? Yeah, I don’t see why not.”
India tour of England 2026
At all times in the UK and Ireland; they are all live on Sky Sports
- First T20I (Wednesday July 1) – Chester-le-Street, Durham (5.30pm)
- 2nd T20I (Saturday July 4) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
- Third T20I (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
- Fourth T20I (Thursday July 9) – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
- Fifth T20I (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
- First ODI (Tuesday July 14) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
- 2nd ODI (Thursday July 16) – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)
- Third ODI (Sunday July 19) – Lord’s, London (11am)
Watch England’s white-ball India tour, from 1-19 July, live on Sky Sports. Don’t have Sky? Stream cricket and more NOW.
