‘In my 35 years of cricket…’: Breathtaking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi floors Justin Langer

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (ANI photo) Justin Langer was full of praise for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the youngster once again produced a breathtaking performance for Rajasthan Royals in their crucial IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday (May 19). Calling it a “privilege” to watch the 15-year-old bat, Langer said Sooryavanshi’s fearless stroke play has stunned even the world’s best bowlers.Rajasthan Royals kept their playoff hopes alive with an impressive seven-wicket win at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, successfully chasing down a massive target of 221. At the heart of the stunning chase was Sooryavanshi, who smashed a sensational 93 off just 38 balls, hitting seven fours and 10 sixes at 42.44.The explosive knock also made Sooryavanshi the first Indian batsman in IPL history to hit 50 sixes in a single season. After his dismissal, Dhruv Jurel anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53 off 38 deliveries before Donovan Ferreira sealed victory in style with a 6 over long-on on the first ball of the final over.After the match, Langer admitted that he had rarely seen anything like Sooryavanshi’s bat in his long cricketing journey.“We’ve seen it all season, he’s the best run-scorer. I’ve seen some amazing players in the whole time I’ve been playing cricket. To see a young man bat like that, not just tonight but throughout the series, is breathtaking,” Langer said.The former Australian opener also recalled how elite fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Anrich Nortje looked overwhelmed when they bowled a wonder at RR earlier this season.“I think the last game, Mitchell Starc, who is one of the best bowlers of all time, bowls and look at the look on his face,” Langer recalled. “And Nortje, who is a world-class international bowler, and Sooryavanshi is beating him. And the look on their face is like, ‘what’s going on here?’ The scary thing is, if the looks on the faces of Mitch Starc and Nortje and every bowler now tell the story, what if they learn to bat? My god, he’s so young. So yeah, he’s a great, great player. And it’s a real privilege to watch it burn, actually.”Langer backed Sooryavanshi to succeed in all conditions and formats, comparing the youngster’s adaptability to the legendary greats of the game.“People always ask if great players from different eras would adapt. The answer is yes, because truly great players always find a way. Sooryavanshi is that good. Wherever he plays, he will adapt, because honestly – where are teams going to mix him?” Langer concluded.