Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals’ teenage batting standout, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, after the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season. Even though RR did not make it to the final, Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach left a lasting impact, culminating in him winning the Orange Cap. The 15-year-old finished the campaign with 776 runs and a strike rate of more than 220, underlining how quickly he has made his mark in the tournament.
When asked what he would remember most from this IPL, Gavaskar highlighted Sooryavanshi’s overall influence on the season. The former India opener pointed to the scale of his hitting and the way he dominated at a young age, describing him as the defining story of the competition.
- Gavaskar said his key memory would be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him the standout narrative of the season.
- He specifically cited Sooryavanshi’s 72 sixes across the tournament as a remarkable achievement for a player of just 15 years.
- Gavaskar also referenced Sooryavanshi’s scoring surge in the powerplay, noting he had already piled up 500 runs in that phase alone.
- He added that such performances bodes well for the future of Indian cricket.
Gavaskar’s comments were echoed by former India chief selector MSK Prasad, who labelled Sooryavanshi a “super talent” and went further, describing him as the “best in the world in T20 cricket.” Prasad argued that the teenager should be fast-tracked into the national setup and suggested he be considered for the Ireland series scheduled later this month.
- Prasad said Sooryavanshi is already among the top performers globally in T20 cricket, not merely a prodigy.
- He urged that the youngster be moved quickly into the Indian team.
- Prasad recommended selection for the Ireland series after the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka.
- He felt the timing is right for Sooryavanshi to be drafted into the senior side and expected him to flourish in the India A competition in Sri Lanka.
- Prasad added that holding him back serves little purpose, insisting he is likely to play for India “soon” and “for a long time.”
The former India wicketkeeper-batter also explained why he believes IPL pressure is the most effective preparation. In his view, competing in high-stakes matches against elite T20 sides is the quickest route to cement a place in the Indian squad, and he suggested the selectors may already be thinking along similar lines.
Prasad, however, included an important note of caution. While praising the talent, he stressed that Sooryavanshi’s workload should be managed and his fitness must improve, pointing out that the teenager himself had indicated in a post-match interaction on Sunday that he needs to get fitter.
- Prasad welcomed Sooryavanshi’s own admission that he needs to improve his fitness.
- He noted that the teenager has been working with the NCA for a period of time.
- Prasad reminded that Sooryavanshi is only 15 and should therefore be handled carefully, with close monitoring.
- He suggested that Sooryavanshi could benefit from being guided for some time under the mentorship of VVS Laxman or Rahul Dravid, describing them as the kind of figures who can keep a young player grounded.
- Prasad concluded that, at this stage, shaping the career properly is essential.
With the IPL’s spotlight already on him and senior opportunities now being discussed, Sooryavanshi’s next step will be how he translates his explosive form into longer-term development—both on the field and in meeting the fitness expectations that Prasad believes will be crucial for sustained success.
