‘But 15?’: Pandya left stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL heroics

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: With his ability to clear boundaries from the first ball and turn matches on their head in the matter of overs, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. The 15-year-old batting sensation left the bowlers searching for answers and earned admiration from opponents and teammates alike.Sooryavanshi’s numbers from the season were nothing short of extraordinary. The Rajasthan Royals opener finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. The left-handed batsman also rewrote the IPL record books as he smashed 72 sixes during the season, surpassing the previous record of 59 maximums held by West Indies’ Chris Gayle.His most memorable performance came in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With Rajasthan Royals facing a do-or-die clash, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most devastating innings in IPL history as he smashed 97 off just 29 balls to power his side into Qualifier 2. The teenager was at it again in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, where he made a sensational 96. Despite losing to seventh-placed Rajasthan Royals. Sooryavanshi’s intrepid stroke play once again stole the limelight.Among those impressed by the youngster’s remarkable rise was Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who stood up to him during the season and even managed to dismiss him.When asked if he enjoyed battling with the prodigy Rajasthan Royals, Krunal did not hide his admiration.“Oh yes. We played one match against RR in Guwahati. I actually got his wicket as well,” Krunal told Tech Word News.Krunal then praised the teenager, describing him as one of the most exciting talents he had seen.“But boy, what a talent! At 15! Generational talent. To bat like that at 15. Even if you’re 30, 40 or 25, to bat like that is commendable. But 15? And it’s not just a chore. The kid’s got brains.”The RCB star pointed to Sooryavanshi’s mature innings in the knock-out stages as evidence that there is much more to his game than power-play.“Look how he batted in Qualifier-2 vs GT. He played the situation. I am very much looking forward to see how he continues his journey forward in the next ten years,” said Krunal.