NEW DELHI: For decades, Indian cricket spectators queued up to see Sachin Tendulkar bat, and in more recent seasons Virat Kohli has carried that same spotlight—drawing crowds whenever he walks out to the crease. Now, that attention appears to be shifting again, with a 15-year-old emerging as a fresh fascination for IPL followers. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Rajasthan Royals teen batting sensation, has been turning heads with his fearless approach in the nets and eye-catching output in the tournament.
Key takeaways
- A fan at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday evening asked to watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi practise, but the request was denied by security.
- Sooryavanshi spent around 40 minutes in the nets, facing bowlers and throwdown specialists with an aggressive mindset.
- In 11 IPL matches, he has scored 440 runs at an average of 40.
- His strike rate stands at 236.55, the highest among the top 10 run-getters in this IPL.
- He has hit 40 sixes so far, the most in the competition.
- Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara stressed that the youngster’s enjoyment and freedom at the crease are central to his development.
Fan frenzy at Arun Jaitley Stadium
No sooner had the teenager’s presence become known, than IPL supporters began clamouring to catch sight of Rajasthan Royals’ prodigy across venues. One such moment unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium gate in New Delhi on Saturday evening, where a cricket fan from Manesar, Rajiv Yadav, was reported to have asked a security guard for entry so he could watch Sooryavanshi practise. The request was politely refused.
Inside the nets: hard-hitting, little hesitation
In practice, Sooryavanshi went through his work by taking on the bowlers and throwdown specialists for roughly 40 minutes. Observers noted that he did not appear interested in playing purely defensive strokes. Instead, his focus was on striking the ball with power and length, showing a clear intent to dominate the session through hitting rather than caution.
Those traits have translated into numbers during this IPL. Across 11 games, the 15-year-old has compiled 440 runs at an average of 40. What has truly grabbed attention, however, is his strike rate of 236.55—currently the best figure among the top ten run-scorers in the tournament. He has also smashed 40 sixes so far, the highest tally in the competition.
Coaches on what matters next
Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara offered insight into how the franchise is looking at the youngster’s growth. He said the most important thing for Vaibhav is to enjoy every moment, adding that piling pressure or overthinking could cloud his mind. Sangakkara noted that the team does speak with him if he needs guidance, while also emphasising that Vaibhav loves batting and has shown an ability to read the game intelligently. In Sangakkara’s view, the best approach is to let him continue being himself while learning and improving.
Sangakkara also pointed out that as Sooryavanshi starts playing more international cricket, opponents will begin planning specifically to counter him. Even then, he stressed that the youngster must not lose the pleasure of batting. The coach further clarified that Sooryavanshi is not being treated like a “special project,” but rather as a special player.
Delhi Capitals’ Ian Bell adds his perspective
Former England batter Ian Bell, who serves as an assistant coach with Delhi Capitals, believes the teenager will face tougher tests as he steps up. Bell said the common challenge for any young cricketer is the need to keep evolving, but he labelled Sooryavanshi as a “scary talent,” highlighting the level of threat he already poses.
