AB de Villiers Praises Young Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Remarkable IPL Performance

In a thrilling IPL 2026 Eliminator, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the spotlight with a stunning 97 runs off 29 balls. Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers praised the young talent for his remarkable composure and game awareness under pressure. Sooryavanshi's fearless batting led the Rajasthan Royals to a significant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, showcasing his potential to be one of the IPL's most explosive players. De Villiers also highlighted the teenager's impressive mental preparation and maturity, making him a player to watch in the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 15:49 IST

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines in IPL 2026 Eliminator

In a stunning display during the IPL 2026 Eliminator, Rajasthan Royals' young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi captivated audiences with his extraordinary performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 15-year-old showcased his talent by scoring an impressive 97 runs off just 29 balls, leading his team to a 47-run victory and a spot in Qualifier 2. Former South African cricketer and IPL icon AB de Villiers expressed his admiration for Sooryavanshi, highlighting the teenager's remarkable game awareness at such a young age.

De Villiers noted that what impressed him most was not just Sooryavanshi's ability to hit boundaries but his composure and clarity during a high-pressure knockout match. He remarked, "What stood out most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad kept trying different plans, constantly changing the field and mixing their lengths to disrupt his rhythm, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young," he shared with JioStar.

Sooryavanshi's aggressive batting completely disrupted SRH's bowling strategy, allowing RR to reach 125 runs in just eight overs. Despite Cummins' initial defensive tactics, the young player adapted seamlessly to every change in strategy. De Villiers emphasized, "Whether they bowled short or tried to surprise him with fuller deliveries, he seemed prepared for every plan and was in control against all of them. Scoring 97 off just 29 balls in an Eliminator, while dominating all parts of the ground, was an extraordinary display of fearless batting and showed why he is already being spoken about alongside some of the most explosive players the IPL has seen," he added.

De Villiers Commends Sooryavanshi's Mental Preparation

De Villiers was particularly impressed by Sooryavanshi's understanding of mental preparation and game routines, which he believes reflects an uncommon maturity for a player of his age. He stated, "What’s most impressive about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the clarity he already has around his preparation and routines at just 15 years of age. Hearing him talk about visualizing match-ups, studying bowlers, and mentally preparing before games shows a level of maturity that is very rare at that age," the RCB legend remarked.