Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a statement of intent on Tuesday night, showing that reputation matters little once he gets his hands on the bat. The 15-year-old looked composed and fearless against Jasprit Bumrah for the first time, reading the situation quickly and striking with confidence from the opening delivery—sending the very first ball he faced over the ropes for six.
Sooryavanshi’s aggression didn’t stop after the first hit. He backed up the early blow with another maximum in the same over, refusing to ease off even as the Mumbai Indians captain’s spearhead tried to recalibrate. The spell served as a reminder of his willingness to confront elite bowling directly, choosing to play his natural attacking style without hesitation.
In total, Sooryavanshi finished with 39 runs from just 14 balls, a knock studded with five sixes. His rapid burst nearly triggered panic within the Mumbai Indians camp, though Shardul Thakur eventually managed to get the better of him and bring things under control.
How Anil Kumble framed Sooryavanshi’s masterclass
Former India captain Anil Kumble was particularly struck by how the youngster handled Bumrah at both the batting and tactical levels. He pointed out that the youngster didn’t merely attack—he also seemed to steer the contest by predicting and responding to what the bowler was likely to try next.
On JioHotstar, Kumble said it looked “easy” against one of the world’s best, highlighting that Sooryavanshi not only scored immediately off the first ball, but also appeared to set up the bowler for a specific plan later in the over. Kumble noted that while Bumrah is often the one who shapes the batting approach, this time the batter seemed to be doing the shaping—waiting for the slower ball on the third delivery and punishing it for another six.
Kumble also emphasized Sooryavanshi’s consistency and strike-rate. He referenced the youngster’s ability to keep the scoring rate close to 300 across matches and to post more than 30 runs regularly, describing that combination as outstanding.
He further assessed Mumbai Indians’ overall execution, arguing that the side lacked the necessary purpose and intent at key moments—an issue that carried through from their bowling into their batting.
Where Mumbai Indians lost control
Kumble felt MI’s approach didn’t have the urgency required, both in the way they bowled and in how they attempted to chase. He believed the Rajasthan Royals seized the game by sticking to a more disciplined and purposeful plan, especially with their bowling lengths and variations.
- Kumble said it felt as though Mumbai Indians lacked clear intent with the ball, and that absence of purpose spilled into their batting efforts too.
- He acknowledged the challenge of chasing 151 in 11 overs, but stressed that Royals’ bowlers arrived with a stronger mindset and executed with conviction.
- He noted Royals aimed to keep the ball coming onto the batters, using both pace from their opening fast options and also managing the speed effectively.
- He contrasted the approach with how Deepak Chahar bowled, suggesting that Royals’ emphasis was more about making the pitch work rather than simply bowling at a full pace.
Sandeep Sharma’s impact and the chase turning point
Kumble also singled out Sandeep Sharma for recurring trouble, saying the fast bowler delivered at important moments and troubled Rohit Sharma again. He credited Sandeep with consistency and control, describing that as a decisive factor.
In Kumble’s view, Mumbai Indians’ brief hopes of recovery were quickly erased. He said he felt there was a momentary chance when Rutherford was in the middle, but that window closed just as fast.
Wrapping up, Kumble described Sandeep Sharma as a reliable fast-bowling presence and suggested he has become something of a nemesis for Rohit Sharma, given how often he has dismissed him in the past—especially in conditions that make it difficult for batters to keep coping with the pressure.
