Former India batter Kiran More has been visibly impressed by Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, even drawing a striking comparison with a young Sachin Tendulkar. More believes the 15-year-old’s influence is one of the biggest reasons the Royals are hovering near a playoff berth. In the IPL 2026 Orange Cap race, Sooryavanshi currently sits third. Across 13 innings, he has piled up 579 runs at an average of 44.54, striking at 236.32. His rise has turned him into the season’s standout name, regularly taking on experienced, high-quality bowling attacks and punishing them with both sixes and fours.
Speaking on ANI, More explained the feeling he had when he first watched Tendulkar. He said that when Sachin arrived in the Indian team for the first time and faced a top-class bowler, it instantly signaled that he was special. More then added that he feels the same about Sooryavanshi, calling him a special talent and expressing optimism that the youngster can bring significant glory to the country. The former cricketer further said Sooryavanshi appears well-made and well-prepared for the sport, encouraging him to continue playing in the same confident manner.
Sooryavanshi has also earned a spot in the India A group for their upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka. While speaking at a press conference, chief selector Ajit Agarkar praised the youngster’s development and impact, though he also suggested that Yashasvi Jaiswal remains ahead in the pecking order.
Sooryavanshi has already produced a big season in franchise cricket, including a century and three half-centuries. He has struck 53 sixes in IPL 2026, which is the highest number by any Indian in a single edition. His T20 output has been especially dominant: 1280 runs in 31 matches, an average of 42.66, and a strike rate of 217.68, along with four centuries and four fifties.
Outside of the IPL, his List-A record also stands out. In eight innings, he has collected 333 runs at an average of 44.12, striking at 164.95. He has reached three figures once and has added another score in the half-century range.
Earlier this year, Sooryavanshi made a strong impression at the U19 World Cup. He finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 439 runs in seven matches at an average of 62.71, with a strike rate of 169.49. His run tally included one century and three fifties. He also smashed a tournament record by hitting 30 sixes, surpassing Dewald Brevis’s 18 sixes from the 2022 edition. In U19 ODIs, he has become India’s leading run scorer with 1412 runs in 25 innings at an average of 56.48, striking at 165, featuring four centuries and seven fifties in the format.
