Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to leave the cricketing world stunned, but the hype surrounding the youngster has now taken a bizarre turn, with the former England star joking that he could be “burnt out” and even retire at the age of 21 if his meteoric rise continues at the current rate.
Sooryavanshi IPL 2026 Extraordinary Campaign sparked wild reactions from fans and scientists alike. From over-the-top comparisons to artificial intelligence to “chips in the bat” conspiracy theories, the 15-year-old’s explosive batting has become one of the biggest talking points of the season.
During a recent episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Alastair Cook and David Lloyd discussed Sooryavanshi’s stunning IPL rise.
Vaughan started the conversation by putting the teenager’s numbers in perspective.
“So Chris Gayle has the fastest IPL hundred – from 30 balls. The kid has already hit 100 from 35 balls. The most sixes by any Indian batsman in one edition is 42 by Abhishek Sharma in 2024. This kid is on 37 now,” Vaughan said.
Cook was then asked if Sooryavanshi is currently the best number six batsman in world cricket and the former England captain didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely. But what was he going for? What did they sign him for as a 14-year-old? I thought he signed a two-year deal. How much will he go for next year at the auction? What if he says he wants to go back to the auction?” Cook noted.
Vaughan, who has repeatedly backed Sooryavanshi’s early call-up to India, has again pushed for the youngster’s inclusion in India’s upcoming tour of Ireland and England later this year. However, he rejected Cook’s suggestion that Rajasthan Royals would risk letting him re-enter the auction pool.
“Don’t think they’re going to throw him back in (the auction). But rest assured he’s definitely coming for the Ireland tour. He should be in that team,” Vaughan added.
The conversation then took a humorous turn when Tufnell quipped that Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise may lead to burnout before he reaches his prime.
“He could burn out by 21,” Tufnell joked, prompting laughter from the panel, before Vaughan added: “He’ll have enough money by then. He could leave.”
While these remarks were clearly made in jest, they also underscore the staggering scale of Sooryavanshi’s emergence. At just 15, the Rajasthan Royals youngster has already become one of the most feared hitters in the IPL, prompting ex-cricketers to speak of him in almost mythical terms.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
07 May 2026 15:22 IST
