The IPL 2026 Eliminator match was one that ended in disappointment for Sunrisers Hyderabad but resulted in one act that garnered praise on all social media platforms. After the 47 run loss for SRH against Rajasthan Royals, Kavya Maran, the co-owner of SRH, extended his congratulations to a 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his blistering knock. Sooryavanshi had just scored 97 runs in just 29 balls, which ended Hyderabad’s journey in the IPL. Although it had been earlier observed that Kavya celebrated her team’s victories emotionally, this act stood out more due to the fact that it happened at the time of such an overwhelming IPL loss for her team.
This particular incident gained a lot of traction in the form of tweets on social media, with fans praising the owner for recognizing her opponent’s talent. In addition to this, there had been earlier incidents where it could be seen that Kavya celebrated in very animated form during her team’s league matches. However, this particular instance brought into focus a different aspect of the IPL season for the SRH owner.
How Kavya Maran Reacted To Sooryavanshi Show
It was a tough night for Kavya Maran because SRH was unable to maintain control in the Eliminator. The Rajasthan Royals managed to score 243/8 thanks to a fantastic innings from the young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who batted exceptionally well against the Hyderabad bowling. Cameras showed that Kavya was nervous all through the innings, while bowlers were finding it difficult to dismiss the young player. Although Pat Cummins made several changes to the fielding positions and tried many different approaches in the bowling line, none seemed to work successfully. Sooryavanshi hit the ball with equal ease whether the delivery was a Yorker, short ball or slower one. Ultimately, he scored 97 runs from just 29 balls and smacked 12 sixes along with five other boundaries in a strike rate of more than 334.
During SRH’s chase of 244, the pressure became visible. Jofra Archer’s fiery spell reduced Hyderabad to 57/4 inside five overs. As wickets continued to fall, Kavya Maran looked increasingly emotional in the stands. However, moments after the defeat, she still walked toward Sooryavanshi near the boundary line, shook hands with him and exchanged a brief conversation. That gesture earned appreciation online and became one of the defining visuals of the match.
SRH’S Campaign Ends At The Eliminator
Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the Eliminator with confidence after beating Rajasthan Royals twice during the league stage. SRH had also finished the season strongly with 18 points. However, their campaign collapsed under the pressure of RR’s fearless batting and Archer’s new-ball attack. The biggest blow came from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager completely changed the game inside the powerplay. His innings gave Rajasthan momentum that SRH never recovered from. Alongside him, Dhruv Jurel added a fast fifty to push RR to a massive total. Hyderabad’s bowling attack failed to contain the run flow, especially during the middle overs.
In reply, SRH never settled into the chase. Archer’s opening burst removed key batters early and forced Hyderabad onto the back foot. Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 38 off 20 balls, while Ishan Kishan made 33, but the target remained out of reach. SRH were eventually bowled out for 196 in 19.2 overs.
