For all but two innings so far, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has looked like he’s playing a different version of the Indian Premier League. The 15-year-old sensation has already raced to 400 runs in the season, striking one century and two fifties, and doing it with a momentum that seems to rewrite the rulebook almost every time he takes guard. Ian Bishop has repeatedly highlighted how little he’s left exposed so far: the moment the ball is delivered to him, it appears destined for the stands. But the storyline could take a dramatic turn tonight, when Rajasthan Royals lock horns with Delhi Capitals, because for the first time in his career Sooryavanshi will be tested by Mitchell Starc—one of the most intimidating swing and pace operators in the game. Sooryavanshi has already dismantled the likes of Bumrah, Hazlewood and Cummins. The key question now is whether Starc’s threat is next, or whether the teenager’s run-scoring juggernaut simply finds another gear.
KL Rahul, however, is focused on a different kind of comparison—one involving celebrations rather than strike rates. Rahul is clear that Sooryavanshi won’t be adopting his own “hand-in-the-mouth” routine after reaching a century in IPL 2026. Last year, Rahul brought that gesture out after ending an eight-year wait for a home Test century against the West Indies, with the timing also aligning with the birth of his daughter earlier in March. When asked to blind-rank outrageous IPL 2026 possibilities, Rahul suggested that the idea of Sooryavanshi copying that celebration sits at No. 7 out of 8, making it a highly unlikely scenario. “I don’t think he is going to do that,” Rahul said.
Sooryavanshi’s impact, though, isn’t limited to one-off moments—it’s been a steady accumulation of milestones across formats and countries. Having debuted in the IPL last year, he has already made his mark, stacking centuries in Australia, England and South Africa, and then going on to win the Under-19 World Cup in February. In that tournament, he finished as the top scorer with a remarkable 175 in the final, underlining that his talent isn’t confined to IPL pressure. And while becoming the youngest-ever to score an IPL century would have been a headline by itself, this season he has kept raising the bar rather than settling into a second-season slump.
Former coach Rahul Dravid had warned him that opponents would prepare better as the spotlight grows. Yet there has been no sign of a sophomore stumble. Sooryavanshi has continued to overwhelm attack after attack, and teams across the league have taken turns under his assault, with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad all feeling the impact. Against that backdrop, Delhi Capitals may very well be next in line to navigate the Sooryavanshi storm—though tonight’s assignment is arguably the most demanding one yet, with Starc standing as the likely benchmark for how to slow him down.
Even so, a tough test does not automatically guarantee a clear outcome. Bishop has dismissed the idea of Sooryavanshi launching a first-ball six off Starc, but the wider picture still offers plenty of room for chaos. With 119 deliveries left in the innings, the teenager could face a significant chunk of them, and if he gets a foothold early, the pressure could quickly swing back in his favour—again.
