South Africa’s leading paceman Kagiso Rabada has been impressed by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old hit an explosive six in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Rabada briefly found himself on the receiving end during Rajasthan Royals’ clash against Gujarat Titans, where the youngster had no hesitation in taking on some of the world’s top bowlers.
“He’s a big talent. He’s got really quick hands. He’s fearless at the moment. There’s not an iota of fear in his body. It’s normal when you’re young, it’s really fascinating,” Rabada told PTI. “It’s great to see it in the game of cricket, in the IPL. The game is well and truly alive. Who else will come and make headlines of this nature? Let’s wait and see.”
The South African speedster, who has led the pace attack of Gujarat Titans this season, said Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach is exactly what makes him a special talent in modern cricket. Kagiso Rabada takes on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi briefly (screen grab from X)
“What I think is just another bloke and I’m trying to get better from him. He’s definitely an X-factor player, someone who draws eyes to the game. Fantastic. Really quick hands. No worries. That’s a hell of a combination,” he added.
“NO FEAR, NO SPECIAL PLAN”
Temper also played down concerns about batsmen struggling with quality seams and swings, insisting that traditional methods have once again proved effective in T20 cricket. He cited the success of bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who also thrived by sticking to disciplined Test lengths and conventional movement rather than over-reliance on variations.
Rabada said he doesn’t approach any dough with special planning on reputation even when facing in-form young players like Sooryavanshi.
“I’m excited going into the season, whatever team you’re playing for, I’m here to try my best and leave it at that. Whatever the result is, it is,” he said.
Rabada, who clocked nearly 150km/h and has already crossed the 20-wicket mark this season, also reflected on his partnership with India’s Mohammed Siraj, saying their success came more from sticking to their respective roles than any complex strategy. This duo has been crucial for Gujarat Titans strong bowling performances in the powerplay this season.
On his bowling partnership with Sirajem, he added: “It’s about forming a partnership and that’s basically it. He’s got a job and I’ve got a job. We’ve bonded a bit off the field as well, but it’s nothing driven. We’ve found ourselves bowling together and trying to fill that role as best we can. There’s no real magic formula.”
Rabada also refused to directly enter into the debate about batsmen struggling to move deliveries, saying he prefers not to judge batting standards. “If you mix well, you will get wickets. If you are not where you want to be, it will not go your way. That is the balance of cricket,” he said.
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Published on:
13 May 2026 19:29 IST
