Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has had a striking start to IPL 2026, quickly turning into one of the tournament’s most talked-about young hitters. In 10 matches, the 15-year-old has amassed 404 runs at a sensational strike rate of 237.64, a return that reflects both intent and fearless tempo at the crease. His bold approach has drawn admiration from supporters and cricket circles alike, with talk now growing around whether he could earn an international call-up during the upcoming T20I series against Ireland.
As the debate intensified, former India captain Kapil Dev was asked for his view on the teenager. The 1983 World Cup-winning leader, however, said he does not believe he is the right person to pass judgment because he does not follow matches closely enough. Kapil added that analysts who consistently watch games would be better placed to assess Sooryavanshi’s readiness and impact.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Kapil Dev said he is in the same position as many viewers—he only forms opinions from what is shown on television. He stressed that delivering verdicts without regularly following the action in detail is not the right approach. Kapil then pointed to experienced voices such as Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, along with Harsha Bhogle, suggesting they can make more informed sense of a player’s performances than he can.
Kapil’s comments came amid growing attention on the youngster’s performances, including the recent duel in Jaipur where Sooryavanshi faced Kyle Jamieson during the IPL 2026 contest between Rajasthan Royals and the opposition side.
Jamieson recalls early breakthrough and the pressure of Sooryavanshi’s rise
In that match, Jamieson reflected on what it felt like to go head-to-head with the Royals opener, acknowledging that Sooryavanshi’s reputation and current form created an unusual edge to the contest. Even with preparation carried out in the run-up to the game, Jamieson noted that the intensity of the moment was heightened by the batter’s rising stature.
Jamieson’s observations were shared in a video released by the IPL. He explained that the combination of the situation on the field and the way Sooryavanshi was being talked about made the episode stand out for him, particularly because a high-profile batter like that can quickly change the rhythm of an innings.
Dismissal and celebrations after the breakthrough
The remarks followed the fact that Jamieson struck early by dismissing the 15-year-old in the innings. After the wicket, the pacer was seen celebrating with an animated reaction, underscoring how much that early breakthrough mattered in the context of the match.
Jamieson said, “I’m up here. I don’t think I’ve ever been so fearful of a 15-year-old kid in my life. But yeah, we have obviously done a bit of planning leading into the game, and it was just nice that it paid off.”
De-merit point for Level 1 Code of Conduct breach
Not long after the Jaipur clash, IPL match officials confirmed that Jamieson received one demerit point and a warning. The decision came after he was found to have breached Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct during the DC vs RR match.
In that incident, the Delhi pacer was reported to have approached the Royals opener in an aggressive manner, a move that could have sparked an aggressive response from the batter.
(With inputs)
