Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in the IPL 2026 after a run-scoring surge that has left even seasoned observers looking for superlatives. The Rajasthan Royals opener lit up the tournament by amassing 776 runs across 16 matches in the 19th season of the competition. His impact wasn’t just measured in totals—he collected major honours as well, taking the Orange Cap and being named the Most Valuable Player, with a growing chorus now pushing for his inclusion in India’s squad for the next T20I series against Ireland and England.
What makes the conversation around him even more striking is that his dominance has crossed into Test cricket chatter too. During the Lord’s Test between England and New Zealand, one of the rain interruptions turned into a platform for discussing Sooryavanshi’s exploits. The first match of the three-game series began on Thursday, and during that break, a panel featuring Simon Doull, Ian Ward and Nasser Hussain analysed the youngster’s performances.
Doull led the praise, describing it as “phenomenal” to watch Sooryavanshi go about his business, while also underlining how intriguing it would be to see whether India’s selectors make space for him immediately rather than waiting. The exchange, with Ward and Hussain joining in, captured the sense of disbelief at what a 15-year-old has managed in a full IPL campaign—how difficult it is to believe such output can come from someone so young, and how the team balance will have to be adjusted to accommodate his talent.
Later, the admiration extended beyond commentary and into the dressing-room corridors. After the IPL 2026 final—won by RCB by five wickets—Virat Kohli was spotted speaking with Sooryavanshi, urging him to keep the momentum going. The former India captain’s message was simple but clear: stay locked in, keep building on the performances, and continue the hard work that has brought him to this stage.
Heading into his second IPL season, many expected Sooryavanshi to hit the familiar “second-season blues” that can affect young players, but he has silenced that narrative in emphatic fashion. He still found ways to pile on runs, going past the 700-mark with a season that included a century and three separate innings of 90-plus. Even when the pressure rose, he delivered—posting consecutive 90-plus scores in the Eliminator and then again in Qualifier 2, against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
Reflecting on his approach after securing the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi explained that his mindset is built around reading the ball early and committing to his strengths. “I just try to back my game. If I feel that the first ball is in my zone and I can hit it, then I go all-out and try to play that way,” he said. He also pointed to learning to handle pressure and adjusting as the situation demands. “This season, I learnt how to play under pressure and adapt my game to the circumstances. You can’t play every game with the same mindset. You have to read the game situation and play according to what the team requires. I learned a lot about that, even in the playoff games,” he added.
With long-term goals in view, the teen further emphasised the need to stay fit and manage his body. “I’ll have to focus a lot on that because I want to play for a long time. I need to avoid injuries and things like that, so I’ll have to work on my fitness and focus even more going forward,” he said.
Sooryavanshi’s next assignment will come in the India A set-up. He is set to feature for India A in the tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, which begins on June 9. Tilak Varma will lead the side, and the tournament is expected to be another crucial step in determining how quickly the young batter’s IPL form translates into opportunities at the next level.
