Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines in IPL 2026: A Future Star in Red Ball Cricket
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Stellar IPL Performance
At just 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has made a significant impact in his second IPL season, clinching multiple awards during the ceremony held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He was honored with the Emerging Player award, the Orange Cap, the Super Striker award, and the title of Most Valuable Player, having scored an impressive 776 runs with a remarkable strike rate of 237.31. Yet, Sooryavanshi is not resting on his laurels; he is now focused on what he considers the biggest challenge of his career after a record-setting IPL season. The young star from Rajasthan Royals has shown exceptional skill, dominating some of the world's best bowlers and sparking discussions about a potential call-up to the national team.
Sooryavanshi's Aspirations Beyond T20
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi On Red Ball Cricket
Despite the buzz surrounding his T20 success, Sooryavanshi is already contemplating his future in red ball cricket. Following the final match where Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Gujarat Titans, former Indian spinner R Ashwin humorously noted that Sooryavanshi had overlooked one batting accolade: the most fours hit in the season. He playfully inquired if Sooryavanshi intended to keep the ball on the ground more often.
In response, Sooryavanshi assured fans that they would soon see a different side of his batting during upcoming India A matches, revealing that he has been diligently practicing with the red ball. "Yes, I will have to play on the ground because the next assignment is in a one-day format," he stated. "I have practiced a lot with a red ball, but no one has seen me do that, but they will soon." When asked about his ambitions for Test cricket, he acknowledged that while he is recognized for his ability to hit sixes, there is more to his game. "People think I love to hit every ball, but this is the T20 format, and coaches give me a free hand to go all guns blazing. I hit the ball because I know I can, not out of compulsion," he explained.
Sooryavanshi expressed his desire to play Test cricket, citing his father's belief that it is the ultimate format. Although he has played some Ranji Trophy matches, he feels he hasn't had enough opportunities yet. Since debuting for the Bihar team in January 2024, he has participated in only eight first-class games, scoring 207 runs with one half-century. His potential was also evident at the junior level, where he scored a century off just 58 balls for India U-19 against Australia last year.