Xplorich
NEW DELHI: With his ability to clear boundaries from ball one and turn matches on their head in a matter of overs, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. The 15-year-old batting sensation left bowlers searching for answers and earned admiration from opponents and teammates alike.Sooryavanshi’s numbers from the season were nothing short of extraordinary. The Rajasthan Royals opener finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. The left-handed batter also rewrote the IPL record books by smashing 72 sixes during the season, surpassing the previous record of 59 maximums held by West Indies great Chris Gayle.His most memorable performance came in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With Rajasthan Royals facing a do-or-die clash, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most destructive innings in IPL history, hammering 97 off just 29 balls to power his side into Qualifier 2. The teenager was at it again in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, blasting a sensational 96. Although Rajasthan Royals eventually lost by seven wickets and missed out on a place in the final, Sooryavanshi’s fearless strokeplay once again stole the spotlight.Among those impressed by the youngster’s remarkable rise 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 Rajasthan Royals 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 that there is far more to his game than 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.
