Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not buying into the hype, it is just the beginning of a long journey

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a springboard to instant stardom, but few players have seen their stock rise as fast as 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. On Tuesday night, the teenager left the cricket world stunned at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, smashing a breathtaking 38-ball 93 to lead Rajasthan Royals to a decisive seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Chasing a massive target of 221, Sooryavanshi destroyed the LSG attack with 10 towering sixes and seven boundaries. It was an extraordinary exhibition of raw power and hand-eye coordination that even earned him the highest praise from legendary on-air commentator Ian Bishop: “He’s ready.”

Despite claiming the tournament’s orange cap with 579 runs and securing an India-A call-up, he remains completely unfazed by the hype surrounding his name.

IPL 2026, RR vs LSG: Highlights | Scorecard|

CALCULATED CHASE, NOT IMPULSES

what does he do Sooryavanshi’s knock stood out for how deeply calculated it was. Faced with a steep 221-run mountain, a teenager might normally look to get out of trouble immediately. Instead, the young southpaw showed a level of tactical maturity that completely belies his age, taking time to assess the conditions before launching an all-out attack.

“Nothing much. I was just thinking because I was sitting out during the bowling innings and the wicket looked good,” revealed Sooryavanshi in his post-match interview. “I thought to myself, I shouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to start today, I should take some time and if I bat for a longer time, it will help the batsman at the other end as well.”

Even after a quieter start, he reached his half-century in the blink of an eye and eventually plundered 29 runs in a single over against India’s fastest bowler, Mayank Yadav.

“That was the mindset,” he added. “I know I can hit two or three boundaries or sixes at any time, so I can take a little bit more time and not be in too much of a hurry and try to take the game to the end.

“I just think this is just the beginning. If my career is long and I play a long time, people will say a lot more things.”

NOISE BLOCKING

With great performances comes immense public scrutiny, but Sooryavanshi has already figured out how to keep his cool. He has built a metaphorical firewall around his cricket, completely ignoring the plaudits from newspapers and social media that usually derail young prodigies.

“Nothing much. I don’t really see much, I don’t read the papers and stuff, so I don’t think much about it,” he said with complete calmness. “I just think this is just the beginning. My focus should just stay on the game and finish my journey.”

Even his on-field celebrations, which have captured the imagination of fans across the country, are completely unscripted and vanity-free.

“Sir, I don’t know. I just do something new every match. I don’t plan much. There’s no meaning behind it,” he admitted. “Even the celebration I did last game didn’t mean anything. I’m just always trying new things.”

ONE FINAL STEP TO THE PLAYOFFS

With his brilliant 93 and steady unbeaten 53 from Dhruv Jurel, Rajasthan Royals have successfully kept their playoff dreams alive, moves up to 14 points in the table.

With the last league game remaining against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, the equation is clear. The team will need a win to cement their place in the top four, but Sooryavanshi insists things are completely straightforward in the dressing room.

“Nothing much. We’re just focusing on enjoying ourselves,” he concluded. “In the next game, we should also not focus too much on things off the field. Everyone should focus on the game and play with joy, as we have done throughout the tournament.”

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

20 May 2026 10:49 IST