Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise is no longer confined to Indian cricket circles. The 15-year-old’s standout run in IPL 2026 has drawn attention well beyond the subcontinent, with former England captain Michael Vaughan saying supporters in the United Kingdom are even watching specifically to see the young batter in action. Vaughan described how the moment Sooryavanshi comes to the crease, attention across audiences and broadcast screens appears to shift toward him.
Vaughan’s view: age, impact and an argument for a faster India route
Vaughan pointed out that Sooryavanshi’s popularity has grown quickly “around the world” and claimed that recent IPL viewing trends in the UK have been influenced by the teenager’s performances. He said he received messages from back home indicating that, over the past few weeks, fewer people had been watching the league as they used to—until the focus returned whenever this particular youngster was due to bat.
In Vaughan’s assessment, the primary reason Sooryavanshi has not already been selected for India is simply his age. He argued that if the batter were older—around 18, 19, or 20—he would likely have already been involved with the national team setup.
The former England skipper also went further by naming Sooryavanshi as the best opening batter of the season. While he acknowledged the cautious approach India may take when dealing with a teenager, Vaughan insisted the Rajasthan Royals opener already merits a place in India’s T20I plans.
He framed the discussion around formats: in 50-over cricket, Vaughan suggested there may still be learning required due to limited experience at that length, but in T20 cricket he believes Sooryavanshi is currently India’s leading choice among openers. Vaughan underlined his point by referencing the way Sooryavanshi has been playing—implying that the performances themselves make a strong case.
Growing “aura” and comparisons to the game’s great entertainers
For Vaughan, what makes the story even more striking is the presence Sooryavanshi has developed at such a young age. He said that with every appearance at the crease, the focus of everyone around the match seems to lock in on the teenager, describing the atmosphere as if nothing else matters once the batter is set to face deliveries.
Vaughan likened Sooryavanshi’s rising influence to some of cricket’s most captivating performers. He also suggested the youngster could potentially eclipse Chris Gayle in one particular aspect—power-hitting dominance—though he did not offer ball-by-ball comparison. Vaughan said he is confident Sooryavanshi’s percentage of impact in terms of power output is higher than Gayle’s, describing him as a “joy to watch” and emphasizing how viewers stop everything else to follow each ball.
Rajasthan Royals numbers: leading run-scorer with a record-breaking season
Sooryavanshi’s impact is backed by substantial production for Rajasthan Royals. He has been the leading run-scorer for the franchise this season, delivering a remarkable campaign across 13 innings.
- Runs: 579
- Batting average: 44.53
- Strike rate: above 236
- Big scores: 1 century and 3 half-centuries
- Sixes: 53 (the most by an Indian batter in a single IPL season)
With his performances continuing to build momentum, the debate around Sooryavanshi’s potential India debut has only intensified—both because of his output and because of the way he has captured attention across audiences, from match venues to television screens in faraway places.
