24 April,2026 05:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Cheteshwar Pujara (Pic: File Pic)
The IPL 2026 is all about the exciting talents, emerging players, and fearless prodigies. So far, the names that impressed the most in the tournament are Rajasthan Royals' (RR) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Punjab Kings' (PBKS) Priyansh Arya.
Following the stunning performances from the two youngsters, former Team India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara heaped praise by saying the two have clarity about their game plans.
"What stands out for me is not just the stroke play, it's the clarity. At that age, most players are still figuring out where they belong, but Priyansh and Vaibhav already know exactly how they want to play the game. It's not about reckless hitting; it's about backing your intent without second-guessing," he said on JioStar.
The former cricketer then explained Vaibhav and Priyansh's playing style.
"Vaibhav brings that raw, uncompromising power, while Priyansh gives you time on the ball that you simply can't teach. Together, they're redefining what a Powerplay can look like, and more importantly, they're doing it on their own terms. Obviously, they will continue to improve and grow but what I am seeing at such a young age is very exciting," said Pujara.
The IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) is set to be played on Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match will commence at 7.30 PM.
Ahead of the game, RCB's stalwart Virat Kohli is 92 runs shy of scripting history. If he manages to score the required runs, the Delhi-born cricketer will then become the first-ever batsman to reach the feat of completing 9000 runs in the cash-rich league's history.
So far in 273 matches, the right-handed batsman has amassed 8908 runs, including eight tons and 65 half-centuries. His top score in the league is an unbeaten 113 runs.
Currently, the Royal Challengers are in the third position on the points table. Having played six games, they have secured victories in four matches and suffered losses in two games. The Rajat Patidar-led team also has a net run rate (NRR) of +1.171 and eight points.
