Less than a day after Sachin Tendulkar publicly backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the Test arena, the 15-year-old received another major stamp of approval—this time from Virat Kohli, who did not hide his amazement at the teenager’s IPL breakthrough. Kohli was left impressed after Sooryavanshi became the youngest winner of the Orange Cap, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain’s quick, personal reaction after the final quickly turned into the talk of the cricket world.
Key takeaways
- Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to claim the IPL Orange Cap at the age of 15.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets to secure a second IPL title.
- Virat Kohli privately praised Sooryavanshi as a “special” talent, saying the youngster “can play.”
- Sooryavanshi finished the season with 776 runs, setting a benchmark for consistency at IPL level.
- His campaign included a record for the most sixes in a single IPL edition, while a fastest-century milestone was missed by one ball.
- Next up for Sooryavanshi is a maiden India A 50-over assignment against Sri Lanka later this month.
Kohli’s message to Sooryavanshi after the Orange Cap
Following RCB’s five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL final, Kohli moved over to Sooryavanshi as the youngster approached the stage to receive his Orange Cap. The moment was brief but powerful—Kohli put an arm around the teenager’s shoulder and shared a few words that Sooryavanshi is unlikely to forget.
While that exchange was not captured on camera, AB de Villiers—part of the broadcast team for the final—later explained what Kohli had said. De Villiers revealed that he had a short conversation with Kohli during the build-up, and when Sooryavanshi was walking up to collect his trophy, Kohli raised his eyebrows and told him, “AB, this kid is special. The boy can play.”
A season that almost overshadowed RCB’s title buzz
Sooryavanshi’s impact in the tournament was so striking that, for stretches, it threatened to steal the spotlight from RCB’s own triumph. His numbers reflected not just runs, but momentum and power at the highest level.
The Orange Cap came with 776 runs, and he also topped the record charts for the most sixes in a single IPL season. There was also a near-miss in terms of historic pace: he came so close to the fastest century of the competition, with the record not arriving by just one ball. Doing all of that within a little over two months underlined the speed of his arrival at the top of T20 cricket.
With backing from two of the game’s most celebrated batters, the direction of Sooryavanshi’s progress looks clear—upward from here, both in expectations and in the opportunities that follow.
Why the Indian cricket conversation is already shifting
For many in Indian cricket, the search for the next all-format superstar has often been framed in the mould of legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. In that context, Sooryavanshi’s rise has captured imagination far beyond IPL boundaries, especially because he is still only 15. Even if his India debut arrives two years from now—the “worst case” scenario at this stage—his potential window for a long career could easily stretch across two decades.
At present, Sooryavanshi is seen primarily as a T20 force, but his profile suggests he could also adapt strongly to 50-over cricket and even red-ball challenges. The way he has taken to high-pressure batting in the IPL offers the promise of an all-format future.
India A assignment and what it means for the calendar
Later this month, Sooryavanshi is set to return to action in his first India A 50-over campaign, where he will play against Sri Lanka. That schedule could affect his immediate selection chances for the Ireland and England series in late June and early July, since the India A stint would take precedence.
Even so, when it comes to selection, the door is not completely shut. With performances driving the conversation, the message remains: never say never for a player of Sooryavanshi’s current trajectory.
