“People think I love to hit every ball but…”: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s response after R Ashwin’s tease goes viral

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was at his destructive best during IPL 2026 as he dispatched some of the world’s leading bowlers to the stands with ease. Known for his fearless approach and explosive stroke play, the teenager kept the score moving at a breathtaking pace as the bowlers struggled to contain him.Sooryavanshi was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs from 16 innings at an average of 48.50 and a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His season included one century and five half-centuries, earning him the Orange Cap. The Rajasthan Royals opener also rewrote the record books by surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous IPL record of 59 sixes in a season and smashed an astonishing 72 highs during IPL 2026.Although Rajasthan Royals’ campaign ended in defeat in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi dominated the awards ceremony. He walked away with the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Orange Cap and Super Sixes of the Season awards.After collecting several awards, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin jokingly pointed out that the only award Sooryavanshi missed out on was for hitting the most fours in the tournament.Responding to Ashwin, Sooryavanshi revealed his ambition to excel in the longest format of the game as well.“Yes, I will have to play on the ground as the next assignment is in the one-day format. I practiced a lot with the red ball but no one saw me but it will soon,” said Sooryavanshi.“People think I love to hit every ball, but this is the T20 format and the coaches give me a free hand to go all guns blazing. And I only hit the ball because I know I can hit them and it’s not out of compulsion,” he said.“Obviously I want to play Test cricket because my father also taught me that it is the ultimate format and I have played it as well. But I still have a lot of games to play. I have played Ranji Trophy cricket but I haven’t been given many opportunities and it has been challenging for me. But I will continue to work on that aspect of my game,” he added.Former India chief selector MSK Prasad described Sooryavanshi as a “super talent” and one of the “world’s best in T20 cricket”, and urged the selectors to move him quickly into the national side for the upcoming Ireland series later this month.“He is not just a prodigy or a super talent. He is already among the best in the world in T20 cricket. He should be inducted into the Indian side immediately. He should be picked for the Ireland series after the India A tri series in Sri Lanka,” Prasad told PTI.“I think he is well prepared to be drafted into the senior Indian team. I think he will flourish in the India A tri series in Sri Lanka as well. You see, there is no point in holding him back. He will be playing for India soon and he will be playing for a long time,” predicted the former India batsman.“Playing for India A and then India is usually the norm, but playing a high-pressure IPL among the best in the world is the best way to get into the Indian side. I think the selectors are also thinking along the same lines. It’s only a matter of time before he plays for India and plays for a long time,” he reiterated.