Jasprit Bumrah is a go-to benchmark, and so is Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins — but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has still not met a proper roadblock in the 2026 Indian Premier League. At just 15, the right-hander has taken on some of the most challenging bowling units in the tournament and has repeatedly found a way to take control of the chase or the momentum. His approach is simple: he’s not sizing up the bowler, the field, or the reputation. All he seems to care about is the white ball racing in toward his stumps. With 400 runs already accumulated and eight matches remaining, the opportunity to build extraordinary totals is very much on the cards.
After making statements against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sooryavanshi now faces a fresh examination as Delhi Capitals come calling. The key test at the top of the order tonight is expected to be Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer who can turn games with pace, angles and late movement. The sight of Starc firing thunderbolts at a 15-year-old will be captivating, and whether Sooryavanshi can respond with the same kind of statement shot — a six on the first ball — is something Ian Bishop is not ready to predict confidently.
“No, I think you have to give Mitchell Starc credit. He’ll come better prepared; he won’t be Jasprit Bumrah,” the former West Indies fast bowler said.
Who’ll win the battle?
Starc’s IPL journey has been packed with big moments, and the price tag reflects that. He became the most expensive player in league history at the IPL 2024 auction when Kolkata Knight Riders secured him for ₹24.75 crore. After KKR lifted their third title, Starc was released and later returned to the auction market, where Delhi Capitals bought him for ₹11.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
In the latest chapter, shoulder and elbow issues kept him away from action. Starc rejoined Delhi earlier this week and has been cleared to play, with the immediate goal of helping the franchise steady its campaign. Delhi are currently placed seventh in the standings, and while the team has struggled, his return could not have arrived at a more important stage as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Sooryavanshi’s numbers this season against left-arm pace underline both his attacking mindset and a minor concern when bowlers are able to maintain tight discipline. He has shown willingness to take on the new ball rather than wait, scoring 5 off 3 balls against Khaleel Ahmed and then adding 7 off 2 against Trent Boult to set an early tone.
Against Arshdeep Singh, he pushed the tempo even higher, striking 20 off 6 deliveries before being dismissed on the very next ball. In another game versus Punjab Kings, he again found rhythm against Marco Jansen, hitting 7 off 3 as part of the same burst of intent.
With Sooryavanshi’s power hitting set against Starc’s reputation for swing and early over impact, the youngster is unlikely to back away from the challenge. He has often made it clear that he watches the ball, not the bowler — a habit that can be dangerous when matched against a bowler like Starc who has produced first-over damage in the past. Starc may look to test Sooryavanshi early, but this matchup is too balanced to call from the start. If there’s any lean, it may be toward Starc edging the contest — yet regardless of outcome, the battle from the first phases is shaping up to be a must-watch.
