Former Australia batter Justin Langer lavished fresh praise on Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the teenager produced another standout performance in the Royals’ triumph over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, May 19. Speaking after the match, Langer described Sooryavanshi’s batting as “breathtaking” and said it has been a privilege to watch him throughout the series, not only in that game. The praise came after Sooryavanshi struck 93 off just 38 balls as Rajasthan chased a target of 221 in Jaipur, a result that strengthened their qualification hopes.
Langer’s “breathtaking” tribute to Sooryavanshi
Langer pointed to how consistently Sooryavanshi has delivered this season, noting that the youngster’s run-scoring form has been evident for the entire campaign. He added that, across his 35 years in cricket, he has seen many extraordinary players, but the way Sooryavanshi bats—especially at a young age—stands out.
- Langer said Sooryavanshi has been the tournament’s leading run scorer and that watching him bat has been “breathtaking.”
- He insisted the quality has continued “not just tonight, but throughout the series.”
- Langer believes Sooryavanshi will keep improving from here and will become even more dangerous as he refines his game.
How Langer linked Sooryavanshi’s form to the next step
To explain why he is so confident about the youngster’s trajectory, Langer referenced the way Sooryavanshi has been handling elite pace bowling. He recalled the previous match involving Mitchell Starc, one of the sport’s most accomplished white-ball bowlers, and the impact of Sooryavanshi’s hitting on the bowler’s body language. Langer also brought Nortje into the discussion, pointing out that the expressions from Starc, Nortje and other bowlers suggest something unexpected is happening when Sooryavanshi is at the crease.
- Langer remembered Mitchell Starc’s bowling and highlighted the reaction on his face as Sooryavanshi struck.
- He referenced Nortje, describing him as a world-class international fast bowler, and said Sooryavanshi was able to hit him effectively.
- Langer said the “scary” part going forward is what happens when Sooryavanshi learns how to bat even better, given how young he is.
Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag also piled on praise, calling it the best innings he has seen from Sooryavanshi. Parag said the knock began slowly—he suggested Sooryavanshi was on 5 off 11 at one stage—but insisted the youngster then paced his innings properly. Parag highlighted one particular shot as a turning point, describing the early big hit over covers off Mayank that gave him a strong sense of Sooryavanshi’s deeper understanding of the game.
- Parag said it was Sooryavanshi’s best innings.
- He noted the innings started with Sooryavanshi on 5 off 11, before he settled in.
- Parag praised the first major shot over covers off Mayank as evidence of a wider grasp of match situations.
Adapting to any conditions—and the “world cricket” warning
Langer further backed Sooryavanshi to succeed across all playing conditions. He argued that great players adapt when they face different eras, different equipment, and different match demands. In that spirit, he suggested that even if people debate historical comparisons, the key trait is adaptability—and Langer believes Sooryavanshi has it.
- Langer said Sooryavanshi has the ability to adjust his game wherever he plays.
- He argued that if a batter can adapt in one context, he can adapt in others as well.
- Langer warned that Sooryavanshi’s continuing improvement will be “scary for world cricket.”
He framed the logic simply: bowlers can’t easily decide what to bowl to someone who is already thriving, and once a batter like Sooryavanshi finds a rhythm, opponents are forced into uncomfortable plans. Langer’s message was that the youngster will keep getting better and better because he can fit into different match scenarios.
Prince Yadav’s national call-up and Lucknow’s frustration
While focusing on Sooryavanshi, Langer also expressed clear satisfaction over Prince Yadav earning a national call-up. He said he was “very happy” for the player and praised his work ethic, the way he conducts himself, and his care for the team. Langer described Prince as a high-skill, high-character individual who remains driven by team success rather than personal moments.
- Langer said he is “very happy” for Prince Yadav’s national call-up.
- He praised Prince’s work ethic, his approach to his role, and his commitment to the team.
- Langer said Prince’s attitude is that even on days where he may not shine individually, he is only satisfied if the team wins.
- He described Prince as possessing very high skill and very high character.
- Langer added that he expects Gautam Gambhir and his team to be delighted to welcome Prince into their setup.
Turning to Lucknow’s side of the story, Langer admitted that the campaign has been frustrating for LSG, particularly after another tight loss. He suggested that the team got “tied down” during the middle overs, which affected momentum. But he also pointed to a specific pattern of costly overs—saying that three overs went for 73 runs, and that those bursts ultimately proved decisive.
- Langer said LSG were hampered in the middle overs.
- He identified one major over as damaging and said three overs in total accounted for 73 runs.
- He summarised the impact as: one big over hurts, while three can “kill you.”
Reflecting on the season overall, Langer concluded that Lucknow have struggled to produce full, consistent performances often enough. He said they have repeatedly found themselves on the wrong side of close contests, and that inability to execute properly has contributed to an uneven campaign. In the end, he noted that the inconsistency is why the team currently sits at the bottom of the table.
