NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting prodigy, became the biggest talking point of IPL 2026 with his ability to clear boundaries from the first ball and single-handedly change the course of matches. The left-handed opener left bowlers struggling for answers and earned widespread admiration from both opponents and teammates.
Record-Breaking Season
Sooryavanshi's statistics from the season were extraordinary. Representing Rajasthan Royals, he finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer, amassing 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. He also rewrote the IPL record books by smashing 72 sixes, surpassing the previous record of 59 held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle.
Knockout Heroics
His most memorable performance came in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Facing a do-or-die clash, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most destructive innings in IPL history, hammering 97 off just 29 balls to propel his team into Qualifier 2. In Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, he blazed a sensational 96. Although Rajasthan Royals eventually lost by seven wickets and missed a place in the final, Sooryavanshi's fearless strokeplay again stole the spotlight.
Krunal Pandya's Praise
Among those impressed was Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who faced him during the season and even managed to dismiss him. Asked whether he enjoyed his battles with the prodigy, Krunal did not hide his admiration. "Oh, yeah. We played one game against RR in Guwahati. In fact, I got his wicket as well," Krunal told Times of India.
Krunal then lavished praise on the teenager, describing him as one of the most exciting talents he has seen. "But boy, what a talent! At 15! Generational talent. To bat like that at 15. Even if you are 30, 40, or 25, to bat like this is commendable. But 15? And he's not just slogging. That boy has brains."
The RCB star pointed to Sooryavanshi's mature innings in the knockout stages as proof of his game intelligence beyond power-hitting. "Look at how he batted in Qualifier 2 vs GT. He played the situation. I'm very eager to see how he continues his journey forward in the next ten years," Krunal said.
