Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has heaped praise on Rajasthan’s teenage batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old produced his second IPL century on Saturday, striking a sensational 103 off 37 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the innings lit up the contest, Rajasthan were unable to secure victory. Still, Brathwaite was left genuinely impressed by how quickly Sooryavanshi appears to be able to take control of top-level bowling, describing the youngster’s impact in blunt, humbling terms.
Brathwaite’s reaction: “Makes me feel inadequate”
Speaking after the match, Brathwaite said Sooryavanshi’s ability to dominate so early in life leaves him feeling “inadequate” even as a former international performer. He drew comparisons between his own teenage years and what the current prodigy is doing in the IPL.
- Brathwaite said Sooryavanshi’s level of batting “pales” his own achievements and makes him feel “inadequate” as a person.
- He added that at 37, he likely cannot match what a 15-year-old is producing, noting that when he was 15 he was still “getting licks” from family.
- Brathwaite also pointed out that Sooryavanshi is “sharing licks” with the best bowlers in the world, including the likes of Bumrah.
How far can Sooryavanshi go? Brathwaite on the IPL legacy
Brathwaite went beyond the immediate brilliance and spoke about the lasting mark Sooryavanshi could make on the league. He suggested that the youngster has the potential to become the face of the IPL for years to come, highlighting the tournament’s ability to unearth a talent of this magnitude.
- Brathwaite said the IPL is essentially about discovering a 15-year-old “sensation” who can become a major figure for the league soon.
- He referenced the financial rewards and the legacy such a player can create, suggesting that “the world will be at his feet.”
- He praised the platform the IPL provides, adding that he believes the scale of what is happening cannot be fully captured in words.
- He urged fans to marvel at what they are seeing and enjoy the fact that Sooryavanshi is already part of the spotlight.
Why the teenager is standing out in Rajasthan’s season
Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach has already made him one of the standout young performers in the tournament. Brathwaite and others have underlined that the youngster’s strike rate acceleration and ability to unsettle bowling attacks have injected a fresh edge into Rajasthan’s batting.
- His attacking intent has quickly placed him among the leading young players of the IPL.
- His capacity to accelerate scoring and disrupt bowling plans has added a new dimension to Rajasthan’s batting this season.
Second IPL century — and a unique record trail
What makes Sooryavanshi’s start even more remarkable is the rarity of his achievement. He is the only uncapped player to have already struck two IPL centuries.
- He hit his second IPL century in the match versus Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 103 off 37 balls.
- He previously smashed a 35-ball century last season against Gujarat Titans.
- In the SRH game, he also set a new Indian record for the most sixes in an IPL innings, clearing the ropes 12 times.
