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NEW DELHI: Just moments before unleashing his 29-ball 97 carnage in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was seen touching legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s feet. After taking blessings from the batting icon, Sooryavanshi went on to do what he is now known for – brutal hitting.His blistering knock helped Rajasthan Royals crush Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator. Rajasthan Royals, who won their first and only IPL title back in 2008, will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur.During an interview with India Today, Gavaskar recalled the moment when Sooryavanshi came up to him before the match and revealed what he told the teenager.“What I would say to him is exactly what I said to him yesterday when he came just before the match, and we were doing a show on the ground. When he came and he touched my feet and I, and all I said to him was, ‘lage raho bete, lage raho,’ and that is exactly what I would say if I was batting with him down the other end,” said Gavaskar.Sooryavanshi’s stunning blitz also saw him surpass Chris Gayle’s 12-year-old record of 59 sixes in a single IPL season. With 65 sixes already this season, Sooryavanshi’s battle against the Gujarat Titans bowlers promises to be a mouth-watering contest when the two sides meet in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh on Friday.Gavaskar also believes the 15-year-old is ready for an India senior team call-up sooner rather than later.“2026 will be remembered as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Year. He (Sooryavanshi) is ready to play T20 International cricket,” Gavaskar said on the YouTube show Sports Tak.“For England away T20 series, he will be selected. I mean he deserves to be selected after this brilliant show. If you don’t give him chance after this performance, when will you give him chance?”The former India skipper insisted that age should not become a factor given the fearless manner in which Sooryavanshi has dominated bowlers this season.“Don’t go by his age. He is hitting those bowlers who are older than him. In fact at 15, he is hitting bowlers with 15 years of international experience. Just look at his fearless approach,” Gavaskar said.Former India batter Aakash Chopra also lauded Sooryavanshi and described him as a ‘special’ talent. However, Chopra added that the youngster’s India debut can wait considering he is only 15 years old.“We are still two years away from the next World Cup. There is plenty of time. Yes, picking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India based on his IPL form is an exciting thought. You can’t ignore it because the IPL is India’s top T20 tournament. He is breaking records left and right. You have to take him seriously. He is special, no doubt.“But you don’t make changes just for the sake of it. It’s simple. For someone to be dropped, they need to fail. If someone is already a topper in the team, why would you replace them just because someone else scored big runs? Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are those toppers right now. You don’t replace them. If you do, then in two or three years when Vaibhav has a lean patch, the same thing will happen.“The next young batter will be pushed in. So, the selectors, Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, will face pressure. But they must do what is best for Indian cricket. They will make the right call. His India debut doesn’t have to happen tomorrow. It can wait. He is only 15. There is no rush,” said Chopra on Star Sports.
