Gujarat Titans speedster Kagiso Rabada has revealed how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi left him genuinely rattled, praising the Rajasthan Royals teenager’s fearless hitting as well as his rare blend of timing, confidence and raw power. The South African’s comments came after another reminder of the youngster’s growing threat level during Gujarat’s earlier-season meeting with Rajasthan, when Sooryavanshi repeatedly took on Rabada with brutal intent.
Sooryavanshi’s assault on a top-class pace attack
Rabada, one of IPL 2026’s standout quicks, admitted he briefly had to deal with a barrage from the 15-year-old sensation in the Titans vs Royals clash. Sooryavanshi struck Rabada for consecutive sixes in a spell that underscored his lack of hesitation against elite bowling.
- Rabada described Sooryavanshi as possessing “really fast hands” and a fearless mindset.
- He said the teenager has “not an ounce of fear” in his body while confronting top bowlers.
- Rabada highlighted how unusual it is for such a young batter to create headlines with that kind of aggression.
Big names targeted: Bumrah to Bhuvneshwar
The hype around Sooryavanshi has been building steadily, and Rabada pointed to how the teenager has already taken on some of the most respected pacers in the modern game. From high-profile international leaders to experienced Indian quicks, Sooryavanshi’s approach has been consistent: he backs his ability from the first ball.
- Rabada noted Sooryavanshi has already gone after Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
- During the Gujarat match, Siraj was also launched for a first-ball six, reinforcing Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise.
Rabada’s view: the bowler’s mindset stays the same
While acknowledging how striking Sooryavanshi’s confidence looks, Rabada insisted that his own mentality while running in to bowl does not change. In his view, the task remains to treat the teenager like any other batter and try to outplay him ball by ball.
- Rabada said, “What I’m thinking is just another batter” as he prepares to bowl.
- He suggested Sooryavanshi’s style brings a “bit of flair,” calling him an “X-factor” player.
- He added that Sooryavanshi draws attention to the game, combining extremely quick hands with fearless execution.
Rabada’s IPL 2026 form and partnership with Siraj
Beyond the spectacle of Sooryavanshi’s hitting, Rabada is also enjoying peak rhythm in IPL 2026. He has been repeatedly clocking around 150 kmph and has formed one of the league’s most menacing new-ball combinations alongside Mohammed Siraj, troubling batters throughout the powerplay.
- Rabada has taken 21 wickets in IPL 2026 so far.
- He and Siraj have troubled opponents during the opening overs, aided by steep bounce and sharp seam movement.
- Rabada said his bowling approach is built around relentless Test-like lengths.
The South African has now crossed the 20-wicket mark in an IPL season for the fourth time in his career. However, Rabada played down the personal milestone, emphasizing that his focus is on giving his team his best—this season with Gujarat.
- He stated that coming into the season, regardless of the franchise, his aim is to do his best and accept whatever the result brings.
- He emphasized that he does not overly fixate on personal numbers.
How the Rabada–Siraj bond formed
Rabada also spoke about the chemistry with Siraj, describing it as something that has developed naturally through the season rather than through any planned formula. He said both bowlers simply understand their roles and focus on fulfilling them when they share the new-ball duties.
- Rabada said their partnership has formed by itself: “He has got a job to do and I have got a job to do.”
- He added that they have bonded off the field as well, but the connection is not “orchestrated really.”
- Rabada explained that once they know they are bowling together, they aim to deliver to the best of their ability, with “no real magic recipe.”
