NEW DELHI: Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has left commentators short of superlatives. At just 15, he’s been turning every spell into a problem for bowlers—especially when he’s given the chance to come out and set the tone. His fearless brand of cricket, combined with the confidence to go on the front foot from ball one, has made him one of the most discussed young prospects in the game right now.
In a recent IPL 2026 match versus Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sooryavanshi produced a stunning 103 off 37 deliveries, marking his second hundred in IPL history. The knock underlined his ability to change the rhythm of a game quickly, turning pressure into momentum almost instantly.
As his stock continued to rise, the Pakistan cricket analyst Nauman Niaz offered a playful theory about what might be powering Sooryavanshi’s batting. With a mix of humour and amazement, he suggested the youngster could be using some sort of technology—going as far as joking that his bat should be inspected.
“Think about it. What is this kid? Get his bat checked. Like WADA does dope tests, send him to a lab. He probably used an AI chip in his bat. He is unreal,” Niaz said.
Niaz then added more context to his reaction, pointing to the youngster’s physical readiness and style of play. He felt Sooryavanshi looked slightly slower in movement at times, yet still managed to deliver a level of skill and control that didn’t match what one would expect from his age.
“What a player. I did get a feeling he was playing a tad slow. This made me think, what is this guy? When you’re 18, your body builds muscle, biceps, and triceps. This one is just 16. He was born when Virat Kohli was a world champion. He doesn’t have the power game as much as he has technique. He is a wristy player, plus, if you look at this arc, he used the full 360 degree,” Niaz added.
Sooryavanshi’s numbers in IPL 2026 reflect the buzz. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament so far, and also the top scorer for Rajasthan Royals. Across 8 matches, he has piled up 357 runs at an average of 44.62, striking at 234.87—figures that capture both his consistency and his explosive ceiling.
His current IPL form follows a remarkable rise on the international youth stage. After a spectacular ICC Under-19 World Cup run, Sooryavanshi delivered a historic, record-breaking innings of 175 off 80 balls for India against England in the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup final. That performance played a key role in India securing their sixth Under-19 title, and it has clearly carried over into his franchise cricket campaign.
With the tournament heating up, fans will be watching closely to see if Sooryavanshi can keep rewriting the script in IPL 2026—especially as the competition for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap intensifies.
