AB de Villiers has made a bold comparison in the IPL spotlight, linking two left-handed batting prospects—England’s Jacob Bethell and India’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—and predicting that both could grow into major superstars of the sport.
Key takeaways
- De Villiers sees Jacob Bethell’s upside as comparable to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s early promise, despite the age gap.
- Sooryavanshi, playing for Rajasthan Royals, has piled up 404 runs in 10 matches and currently sits fifth in the Orange Cap race.
- His current season impact is powered by a fearless approach and a strike rate of 237.65.
- Bethell joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a breakthrough at the 2026 T20 World Cup, including a 45-ball century in the semi-final against India.
- RCB retained Bethell for ₹2.60 crore, and he has made 43 runs across four IPL appearances so far, with a top score of 20.
- De Villiers believes RCB will keep investing in Bethell long-term and backs him to help the franchise win matches in the future.
Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise in IPL 2026
While Bethell is still getting fully settled in IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi has already become one of the tournament’s most compelling narratives. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the 15-year-old has taken centre stage with 404 runs in his first 10 matches, placing him fifth in the Orange Cap standings at this stage.
What has stood out most is his aggressive intent and the way he converts opportunity into damage at a huge tempo. His strike rate of 237.65 reflects a fearless style that has made him one of the most destructive batters in the competition this season.
Bethell’s IPL journey after World Cup breakthrough
Bethell’s path to the IPL spotlight has been shaped by a major international breakthrough during the 2026 T20 World Cup. After earning attention with a sensational run, he struck a 45-ball century in the semi-final against India, a performance that helped place him firmly on the radar.
Bengaluru then retained him for ₹2.60 crore. However, in the early portion of IPL 2026, he spent significant time on the bench before his chances increased following Phil Salt’s injury.
So far in the league, Bethell has scored 43 runs in four matches, with his highest score reaching 20.
De Villiers’ comparison and long-term belief in Bethell
Speaking on his YouTube podcast, de Villiers praised Bethell and explained why the youngster reminds him of Sooryavanshi. He pointed to the shared left-handedness and the level of raw talent both batters have shown at an early stage.
“I am pretty sure I have mentioned his name few times. I do agree with you. He’s a wonderful, wonderful player,” de Villiers said, before adding: “Very different ages actually, but both are left-handers. He reminds me of Sooryavanshi. Fantastic talent, huge future ahead of them. Bright, bright, bright superstars of the game of cricket, but plenty still to learn, plenty of obstacles still to go through.”
De Villiers also stressed that natural ability alone will not be enough. In his view, the next phase—gaining experience and learning how to handle the challenges that come with senior cricket—will decide how far they can go.
He underlined the same theme again: “Jacob is not as young as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but with similar credentials almost. Superstar talent but plenty still to learn. Once they gain experience over time, I feel those two players will be unstoppable.”
Finally, the South African great expressed confidence that RCB will continue to back Bethell beyond the present season. “Hopefully Jacob will stay with RCB. I have no doubt that they will have plans of keeping hold of him for many years to come. I do believe he has got the ability to win plenty of games for RCB in the future,” he concluded.
