Devdutt Padikkal Praises Young Talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Explosive Batting Skills

In a recent interview, RCB's Devdutt Padikkal praised the exceptional talent of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Rajasthan Royals. He highlighted Sooryavanshi's unique power and explosiveness, emphasizing that it would be unwise to try to replicate his style. Sooryavanshi has been a standout performer this IPL season, leading RR's scoring charts. Padikkal also discussed the advantages of RCB's deep batting lineup, which allows players to play more freely while maintaining responsibility. This season, Padikkal himself has improved his game significantly, showcasing his attacking prowess alongside his signature caution.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 22, 2026, 18:36 IST

Padikkal's Admiration for Sooryavanshi

Devdutt Padikkal, a batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), recently expressed his admiration for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Rajasthan Royals (RR). He highlighted Sooryavanshi's exceptional 'power and explosiveness' at such a young age, calling him a 'rare talent'. The young left-hander has been making waves in the cricketing arena, especially after his impressive performances in the ICC U19 World Cup earlier this year. In the current IPL season, he has been consistently challenging top-tier bowlers, including RCB, where he scored a remarkable 78 runs off just 26 balls, leading RR to a comfortable victory while chasing 202 runs.

Unique Talent: Padikkal's Perspective

In an interview with JioStar, Padikkal remarked that attempting to imitate Sooryavanshi would be 'foolish'. He emphasized that he focuses on enhancing his own skills rather than comparing himself to others. 'What Vaibhav Sooryavanshi does is truly unique. At his age, to have that kind of power and explosiveness in his batting is special. Honestly, it would be foolish for anyone to try to copy him. He is a rare talent, and what he does is incredible,' Padikkal stated. He believes in honing his strengths and improving his game without getting distracted by the talent of others.

Sooryavanshi's Stellar Performance

Sooryavanshi stands out as RR's leading run-scorer this season, amassing 579 runs in 13 innings with an impressive average of 44.53 and a strike rate exceeding 236. His performance includes a century, three fifties, and a record 53 sixes, the highest by an Indian in a single IPL season.

RCB's Batting Depth: A Double-Edged Sword

Discussing RCB's batting depth, Padikkal referred to it as a 'luxury' that instills confidence in players to perform freely at the top of the order. However, he acknowledged the need for responsibility, stating, 'That is how T20 cricket is evolving now. You have to be ready to sacrifice your wicket if it helps the team score an extra 20 or 30 runs quickly. So, it is important to keep the momentum going.' He noted that having a strong batting lineup makes it easier to maintain this aggressive approach.

Padikkal's Growth as a Batter

This season, Padikkal has enhanced his aggressive batting style, accumulating 412 runs in 12 innings with an average of 37.45 and a strike rate above 173. He has recorded three fifties and his highest score is 61. While playing more freely, he has maintained his characteristic caution and has formed crucial partnerships, particularly with Virat Kohli.