Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already developed a reputation as a remarkable prodigy at just 15, drawing equal measures of fascination and debate from cricket voices across India, including players who are currently active and those who have long since retired. Even former Pakistan cricketers—who have rarely been shy about evaluating raw talent—have joined the conversation. One of the more striking reactions has come from ex-quick Tanvir Ahmed, who has made a high-voltage prediction about how Sooryavanshi could reshape attention in India’s T20 set-up.
Speaking on television, Tanvir, now 47, suggested that once Sooryavanshi earns a spot in India’s playing XI for T20I matches, the spotlight could quickly move away from Abhishek Sharma. The claim is bold, particularly given that Tanvir did not spend a long time in the Pakistan system at the top level—he featured in only five Tests, two ODIs, and one T20I—but the former fast bowler argued that understanding talent is not limited to extended international careers.
Tanvir said, “When Sooryavanshi plays for India, people will forget Abhishek Sharma. And when both will be batting together, Abhishek won’t come anywhere close to Sooryavanshi.” He added, “People won’t even notice Abhishek. Everyone will be looking at Sooryavanshi. On your TV screen, you wouldn’t even notice Abhishek.”
Still, Tanvir also placed a boundary around his own statement. “Over a period of 10 years or so, however, I can’t say if Sooryavanshi will be as devastating. I am talking about right now,” he clarified, framing his assessment as a present-tense judgement rather than a long-range guarantee.
Sooryavanshi’s form keeps intensifying
For now, Sooryavanshi’s momentum appears hard to slow. On Friday night in Guwahati, he produced yet another rapid half-century in 15 deliveries, this time against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Facing experienced campaigners such as Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sooryavanshi still found ways to repeatedly attack, turning the contest into something of a mismatch in terms of impact.
His finishing was bluntly decisive: he struck 78 runs off just 26 balls, posting a strike rate of 300. That explosive start—followed by continued pressure throughout—helped Rajasthan Royals remain unbeaten in the league stage, collecting four wins from four matches.
It’s also worth noting that Sooryavanshi’s game is not one-dimensional. While he has looked relentless in recent outings, there have been periods where he showed RCB’s bowlers clear respect, including spells in which he chose to defend rather than simply charge forward. In other words, he hasn’t only been “bang, bang”; there’s a wider skill set behind the aggression.
Abhishek Sharma under scrutiny after World Cup dip
While the focus is increasingly tilting toward Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma’s recent phase has also come under the microscope. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, his perceived stock has slipped since the 2026 T20 World Cup, which India won last month. Even though Abhishek contributed crucial fifties—one against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage and another in the all-important final versus New Zealand—the overall tournament did not deliver the kind of personal outcome he would have expected by his own high standards.
As Tanvir’s dramatic comments continue to circulate, the debate now has a familiar edge: whether the hype around Sooryavanshi translates into sustained dominance at the international level, and whether Abhishek can respond strongly enough to prove that he remains very much part of India’s T20 plans. For Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad fans alike, the next chapters should be worth watching closely.
