Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to rewrite what looks possible at the IPL’s highest level. In the IPL 2026 Eliminator on Wednesday, he made 97 off just 29 balls, falling just short of the outright quickest century in IPL history. The blitz has sparked comparisons with batting icons, but not every reaction has been universally positive—especially after a prominent Pakistan legend weighed in with a specific comparison to Shahid Afridi.
Key takeaways
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck 97 from 29 deliveries in the IPL 2026 Eliminator, narrowly missing the fastest IPL century mark.
- Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf praised him on social media and likened the 15-year-old to a young Shahid Afridi.
- That Afridi comparison drew pushback from some fans who felt the match-up was disrespectful.
- Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel said the franchise is confident in its bowling plans to deal with Sooryavanshi ahead of Qualifier 2.
- Patel flagged Sooryavanshi’s clash with Gujarat’s new-ball duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada as a major storyline.
- Qualifier 2 is scheduled for Friday at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the winner set to play RCB in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Yousuf’s Afridi comparison and the debate it sparked
Sooryavanshi’s early-impact performances have prompted a wave of expert comparisons, with names such as Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar being mentioned in the conversation. Still, Mohammad Yousuf added a different layer by directly comparing the Rajasthan Royals youngster to Shahid Afridi.
Yousuf posted on his official X account that the 15-year-old sensation reminded him of Afridi—describing him as youthful, fearless, and explosive, powered by raw energy. In his message, he suggested that “the future is here,” framing Sooryavanshi as a player with a similar style of high-voltage intent.
Yousuf’s reference drew attention because Afridi, early in his career, produced one of ODI cricket’s most eye-catching feats. Back in 1996, Afridi smashed a 37-ball century in his first ODI innings, a mark that stood as the fastest ODI hundred for nearly 18 years.
However, the internet response was split. Some fans reacted negatively to the Afridi comparison, arguing that it painted Sooryavanshi in an unflattering light. One critic said that being likened to a lower-tier “slogger” was the harshest possible insult, while also expressing a hope that the young batter would move past it quickly and remain unaffected by any negativity so early in his career.
Others pushed back just as firmly, insisting there was “no comparison at all” between Afridi and Sooryavanshi, claiming that the Rajasthan teenager’s approach and profile were fundamentally different.
Qualifier 2: GT’s plan to contain Sooryavanshi
As attention turns to IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, Gujarat Titans are preparing to face Rajasthan Royals with Sooryavanshi at the center of their tactical focus. Parthiv Patel, the GT assistant coach, stated that the franchise is confident in its bowling unit and already has a set plan designed to challenge the teenage sensation in the must-win match.
Qualifier 2 will be played at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday. The winner of that game will progress to the title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scheduled for Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Patel also highlighted a key subplot for the match: Sooryavanshi’s confrontation with Gujarat’s fresh-ball combination of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. The contest between Sooryavanshi’s attacking batting and GT’s new-ball threat is expected to influence the momentum of the game, potentially shaping which side gains early control.
Speaking ahead of the fixture at the pre-match press conference, Patel said he was not in a position to discuss any pre-broadcast plans, but emphasized that the way Sooryavanshi has been batting has impressed him. Patel added that Gujarat would hope to dismiss him early, while noting that teams across the tournament have been studying videos and trends to understand how he plays.
He further suggested that Gujarat’s execution will depend on what unfolds once they take the field, but stressed the importance of ending the conversation around a player’s age. Patel described Sooryavanshi as a “phenomenal” talent and said it has been encouraging to see him perform—while from the opposition’s perspective, the primary goal is to prevent him from building into a big score on the day.
