Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become the kind of teenage name that turns IPL chatter into global cricket debate. The sheer improbability of a 15-year-old taking on, and repeatedly outplaying, top fast-bowling threats such as Josh Hazlewood, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins has only sharpened the intrigue around him. His recent run of form is now forcing former stars to ask whether the next big thing is already here.
Quick facts
- Sooryavanshi announced himself in IPL 2025 with a century off 35 balls.
- He is carrying that momentum into IPL 2026.
- Sooryavanshi has made 404 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 237.65.
- He is currently fifth among the top run-getters.
- Former England players discussed his impact and ceiling during the debate.
In IPL 2025, the youngster’s breakthrough was immediate: he struck a century in just 35 deliveries. The same aggressive tempo has continued through IPL 2026, where he is firmly on a tear. At present, his tally stands at 404 runs from 10 games, with a blistering strike rate of 237.65, placing him fifth in the run-scoring charts.
That production has led to an extended discussion among former England cricketers about how good Sooryavanshi truly is and what his rise might mean for India’s future. Michael Vaughan framed the debate by tying Sooryavanshi’s acceleration to recent IPL milestones, noting Chris Gayle’s record-fast century (30 balls) and pointing out that Sooryavanshi has already reached triple figures off 35 balls and, in another instance, off 36 balls. Vaughan also brought up the six-hitting benchmark for Indian batters in a single IPL season—42 maximums by Abhishek Sharma in 2024—before highlighting that Sooryavanshi is already at 37 and asking whether he could be the world’s best six-hitter right now.
Alastair Cook leaned into the value side of the conversation, responding that the question isn’t only about impact—it’s also about what teams paid for a player so young. He wondered aloud what the contract situation looked like after a reported two-year deal and questioned how much the youngster could cost at the next auction. Cook also raised a practical concern: whether a team would be able to retain him easily if he ever requested another shot at the auction market, given the attention and demand that follow such performances.
India call-up and the auction debate
Vaughan, the former England captain, has been especially outspoken about Sooryavanshi’s chances of making India’s national team setup. He even wants the teenager to travel to England in July. However, Vaughan differed from Cook when it came to the auction angle, arguing that the Rajasthan Royals would not let him slip away so easily.
In that back-and-forth, Vaughan made a bold prediction about international involvement, suggesting Sooryavanshi would be part of the Ireland tour and included in India’s summer plans. He felt it was unlikely the player would be pushed back into the auction process, instead expecting a private resolution that secures his participation. Cook, meanwhile, kept the conversation light but pointed—joking that Sooryavanshi could be “burnt out” by the age of 21 due to the pace of his development.
Tufnell also joined the humour, remarking that the rapid climb might leave the youngster exhausted by 21, and Vaughan added an extra twist by saying Sooryavanshi could have enough money by then and might even consider retirement. Cook immediately countered the “burnout” idea with a simple argument: if the teenager is already playing around 30-ball spells, then the workload concern doesn’t automatically hold. The debate may be playful, but the message is clear—Sooryavanshi’s IPL momentum is forcing the cricket world to treat his next steps as a major storyline, not a passing novelty.
