Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has heaped praise on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the youngster stunned Jasprit Bumrah with a pair of massive sixes in a single over. The moment placed Sooryavanshi under the global spotlight, with Pathan calling it not just power-hitting, but proof that the teenager has a mindset that forces even the best bowlers to adjust.
Sooryavanshi’s first IPL confrontation with Bumrah
- Sooryavanshi faced Bumrah for the first time in IPL cricket and immediately announced his intent by launching the opening ball he saw over long-on for a spectacular six.
- After briefly rotating strike with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi challenged Bumrah again on the fourth delivery of the same over.
- With the youngster sensing a slower option, he picked it early and sent it into the midwicket stands for his second six of the over.
- While his stay at the crease was brief, the impact was loud: Sooryavanshi made 39 runs off just 14 balls before being dismissed by Shardul Thakur, with the catch taken in the deep.
Pathan’s take: “He was waiting for Bumrah”
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan said the performance looked like the payoff of a clear plan. He described how Sooryavanshi appeared to have been mentally fixated on Bumrah, framing it as a case of the teenager arriving with intent rather than nerves.
Pathan explained that Sooryavanshi had reportedly told himself he would get a chance and then act on it—adding that he delivered immediately when the moment arrived, hitting Bumrah off the very first ball.
What impressed Pathan most: making Bumrah think
For Pathan, the real standout was the effect those hits had on Bumrah’s execution. He argued that Bumrah did not look as though he had a fully visible plan, and that the way Sooryavanshi attacked the slower ball showed the veteran had to react in real time.
Pathan also underlined Bumrah’s reputation in white-ball cricket, calling him a once-in-a-generation bowler and stressing how rare it is to achieve such a feat against him—especially at this stage of the teenager’s career.
Fearless batting and a call for an India cap
Pathan attributed Sooryavanshi’s success to a fearless approach. He said the youngster does not overthink when facing a bowler, nor does he get trapped by technical mechanics; instead, he watches the ball closely and commits if the delivery offers a scoring opportunity.
With Sooryavanshi’s explosive IPL form continuing to gather attention, Pathan urged selectors to stop delaying and give the teenager his opportunity with the Indian team. He added that if the player can sustain a professional career for years, it could be a difficult prospect for opposing bowlers—describing it as “scary” for them.
