Sunil Gavaskar’s three-word message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after touching his feet goes viral

Sunil Gavaskar and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Just moments before unleashing his massacre of 97 off 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad , 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was seen touching the legs of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. After taking the batting icon’s blessings, Sooryavanshi went on to do what he is now known for – brutal hitting.His blistering knock helped Rajasthan Royals crush Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator. Rajasthan Royals, who won their first and only IPL title way back in 2008, will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at Mullanpur. During an interview with India Today, Gavaskar recalled the moment when Sooryavanshi came up to him before a match and revealed what he had said to the teenager.“What I would tell him is exactly what I told him yesterday when he came just before the match and we were doing a show on the ground. When he came and touched my legs and me and all I said to him was ‘lage raho bete, lage raho’ and that’s exactly what I would have said if I was batting with him from the other end,” Gavaskar said.Sooryavanshi’s stunning blitz also broke Chris Gayle’s 12-year-old record of 59 sixes in a single IPL season. With 65 sixes already this season, Sooryavanshi’s battle against the Gujarat Titans bowlers promises to be an enticing match when the two sides meet in Qualifier 2 at New Chandigarh on Friday.Gavaskar also believes the 15-year-old is ready for a call-up to the senior India team sooner rather than later.“2026 will be remembered as the year of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He (Sooryavanshi) is ready to play T20 International cricket,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak on YouTube.“He will be picked for England’s away T20 series. I mean he deserves to be picked after this great show. If you don’t give him a chance after this performance, when are you going to give him a chance?”The former India captain insisted that age should not become a factor given the fearless manner in which Sooryavanshi has dominated the bowlers this season.“Don’t go by his age. He is hitting those bowlers who are older than him. In fact, at 15, he is hitting a bowler with 15 years of international experience. Just look at his fearless approach,” Gavaskar said.Former India batsman Aakash Chopra also praised Sooryavanshi, describing him as a “special” talent. However, Chopra added that the youngster’s debut in India may have to wait as he is just 15 years old.“We are still two years away from the next World Cup. There is plenty of time. Yes, picking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India based on his IPL form is an exciting thought. You can’t ignore it because IPL is India’s best T20 tournament. He is breaking records left and right. You have to take him seriously. He is special, no doubt.“But you don’t make changes just for the sake of it. It’s simple. To get out, someone has to fail. When someone is already the best player in the team, why would you replace him just because someone else scored big runs? Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are the best right now. You don’t replace them. If so, then in two or three years, the same thing will happen when Vaib has the same patch.

What impressed you the most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL performance?

“Another young batsman will be pushed in. So the selectors, Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, will face pressure. But they have to do what is best for Indian cricket. They will make the right decision. His India debut may not be tomorrow. He can wait. He is only 15. There is no rush,” Chopra said on Star Sports.