Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has not held back his admiration for Rajasthan Royals teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “spectacular talent” and tipping him as “one for the future” after his impressive start to the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
At just 15, Sooryavanshi turned out to be one of the most exciting stories tournament, he scored 246 runs in six innings in a staggering strike total of 236. His fearless approach at the top not only set the tone for Rajasthan but also attracted the attention of opponents from across the league.
“He is a spectacular talent and all the adjectives would be much less for him,” Iyer said. “The way that bat has the flow, the rhythm and the momentum he creates before delivery, I think he’s one for the future.”
Iyer’s praise carries added weight given his own strong form this season. The Punjab skipper amassed 208 runs in six innings and led from the front, emphasizing a philosophy built around confidence and individuality, qualities he believes have defined Sooryavanshi’s rise.
“Whenever I talk to the players, my only message is to be yourself. Don’t try to copy or imitate anybody,” Iyer said. “When you’re fearless and flamboyant in your own way, you don’t have to copy anyone.”
This approach, Iyer added, has also played a key role in the success of Punjab’s top-order, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya crossing the 200-run mark this season. “When you tell these guys they’re match winners, it gives them confidence,” he said.
Sooryavanshi’s impact was such that few people in the IPL ecosystem remained untouched by his actions. From teammates to opponents, the young opener’s strokeplay and composure marked him out as a rare talent, with Iyer admitting that conventional praise hardly did justice to his abilities.
The Punjab captain also reflected on his own journey and recalled a standout moment from IPL 2025 when he faced Jasprit Bumrah in a high-pressure encounter.
“It was completely instinctive. I tried to hit him straight to the ground,” Iyer said. “When you’re facing arguably the best pitcher in the world, you have to go with your instincts.
He pointed to clarity of mind and emotional control as key differentiators at the highest level. “If you’re showing too much emotion, your heart rate fluctuates. When you’re in control, you can stay clear and determined about your goal.”
In many ways, that clarity and fearlessness can already be seen in Sooryavanshi, a teenager playing with the confidence of a seasoned professional and, as Iyer suggests, a name destined to shape the future of Indian cricket.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
20 Apr 2026 16:29 IST
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