Indian leg-spin great Anil Kumble has praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s destructive batting, but what has impressed him just as much is the youngster’s unwavering steadiness throughout the ongoing IPL. Kumble pointed to the fearlessness behind Sooryavanshi’s displays and highlighted how the teen has taken consistency to a new level in the tournament.
Sooryavanshi has made IPL history by smashing 65 sixes in a single season, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 59 maximums. That earlier record had been set by West Indies hitter Chris Gayle in 2012, making Sooryavanshi’s leap in production even more striking.
At just 15 years old, Sooryavanshi is currently the leading run-getter and holds the Orange Cap, having piled up 680 runs in 15 innings for Rajasthan Royals. His impact has also reached beyond franchise cricket, with Kumble noting that he has recently surpassed a world record for the most runs in a single T20 series by a teenager.
“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the Orange Cap holder, and that’s not something he has achieved just once or only against a couple of teams,” Kumble said. “He’s been doing it consistently over the last two months, and that says a lot about the youngster.”
Kumble added that Sooryavanshi’s run-scoring is not merely the result of trying to hit a few big shots. While he is now the tournament’s top six-hitter, the former India captain stressed that the foundation of his success is sustained performance rather than moments of luck.
“It’s not just about going out there and bashing a few sixes, even though he is the highest six-hitter now,” Kumble said.
The spinner-turned-commentator also suggested that Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking season is creating pressure on Rajasthan’s opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose returns have been below his usual standard. Jaiswal has scored 426 runs in 15 matches, striking at 153.24 with an average of 32.77, figures that have not matched the level he has shown in previous campaigns.
“The bowlers have bowled well at him, but he will still be under pressure,” Kumble said. “The whole limelight that was on Yashasvi Jaiswal a couple of years ago is still there, but now someone who is just 15 years old has gone ahead and taken the world by storm.”
Kumble further referenced a recent game against SRH, where the opening stand looked powerful. He said the pair put together a partnership of nearly 120 runs in about eight overs, while emphasising that the major share of the scoring came from Sooryavanshi.
“Even in the game against SRH, the partnership was fantastic. They scored almost 120 runs in about eight overs, but the bulk of the scoring was done by Sooryavanshi,” Kumble said.
He concluded by noting that Jaiswal may feel let down by his own output despite the conditions. “Yashasvi will be disappointed that on such a good wicket, he scored at a run-a-ball,” Kumble added.
