NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals\u2019 teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing the young batter as a \u201cspectacular talent\u201d and a player he expects will be \u201cone for the future\u201d after an eye-catching run in IPL 2026. Sooryavanshi has quickly established himself as one of the season\u2019s most talked-about performers, notching 246 runs in just six innings at a strike rate that has climbed above 236, and making an immediate impression with his fearless intent at the top of the order.<\/p>\n
Speaking about Sooryavanshi, Iyer said the range of his ability is hard to contain in words. \u201cHe is a spectacular talent, and all the adjectives would be pretty less for him,\u201d the Punjab captain remarked. Iyer pointed to the technical and mental rhythm behind the attacking start, highlighting the smooth \u201cbat flow\u201d and the momentum the teenager builds just before each delivery. \u201cThe way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum he creates before the delivery \u2014 I think he is one for the future,\u201d he added, underlining how the youngster\u2019s approach looks made for long-term impact.<\/p>\n
Iyer also laid out what he believes is the key to fearless batting in T20 cricket, insisting that confidence and individuality matter as much as technique. With his own season producing 208 runs, he stressed the importance of self-belief and staying true to your style rather than trying to copy others. \u201cWhenever I speak to players, my only message is: just be yourself. Don\u2019t try to emulate or mimic anyone,\u201d Iyer said. In his view, when a batter plays with freedom and flair in a personal way, there is no need to imitate. \u201cWhen you are fearless and flamboyant in your own way, you don\u2019t have to copy anyone,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
The captain connected that mindset to the form of Punjab\u2019s opening pair, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, both of whom have already surpassed the 200-run mark this season. Iyer suggested that the coaching message matters just as much as the game plan. \u201cWhen you tell these guys they are match-winners, it instils confidence in them. They can just go out there and play freely,\u201d he said, reflecting on how belief can unlock performances at the start of an innings.<\/p>\n
Turning to his own batting, Iyer recalled a decisive moment against Jasprit Bumrah, where he felt instincts took over completely. \u201cIt was completely instinctive. When you are facing probably the best bowler in the world, you have to back your instincts,\u201d he said. For Iyer, that approach comes down to staying clear-headed and keeping emotions in check when the pressure spikes, especially against elite pace and skill.<\/p>\n
With Punjab Kings still chasing their maiden title, Iyer\u2019s admiration for Sooryavanshi also points to a wider trend across the league: younger batters are increasingly shaping match tempo through bold, fearless play. As Sooryavanshi continues to stack runs at a breathtaking pace, Iyer\u2019s comments reinforce the growing belief that the next era of T20 batting will be driven by fearless talent that trusts itself from the very first ball.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals\u2019 teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing the young batter as a \u201cspectacular talent\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Shreyas Iyer Praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in IPL 2026","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Shreyas Iyer calls Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a \u201cfuture star\u201d after his IPL 2026 explosion\u2014246 runs in six innings and a blistering strike rate.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n