Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines in IPL 2026 Eliminator, Earning Praise from Ashwin
Ashwin's Praise for Young Talent
Renowned Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded the remarkable performance of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ashwin expressed his astonishment at the young Rajasthan Royals player's mental composure at such a tender age. He humorously suggested that Sooryavanshi's parents should protect him from any negative influences following his impressive rise this season. After the Rajasthan Royals triumphed over SRH, Ashwin shared on his YouTube channel that he was particularly impressed by the teenager's ability to adapt and evolve within a single IPL season. "I don't want to emphasize his age, but how many matches has he played at 15 to achieve this level of maturity? Remember his uppercut over third man for six? Earlier in the season, he was trying to play it straight and getting top edges. Within a season, he made such adjustments at just 15," Ashwin remarked. He added, "He is not an ordinary player. His parents need to do everything possible to ward off any bad luck. In the post-match interview, he mentioned that centuries will come later; he focused on winning the match for his team tonight. His batting approach shows he isn't fixated on hundreds because he knows they will come eventually." Ashwin also highlighted Sooryavanshi's impressive responses regarding handling pressure during the playoffs. “When asked how he would cope under pressure, he was outstanding,” Ashwin noted.
Sooryavanshi's Spectacular Performance in Mullanpur
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi turned the match at Mullanpur into a display of boundary-hitting prowess. As the innings progressed, Pat Cummins tried various bowling strategies and field placements to contain the young talent. However, Sooryavanshi remained unfazed by the challenges posed by pace, yorkers, and short balls. He reached his half-century in a mere 16 balls, maintaining relentless pressure on SRH. Ultimately, he achieved a strike rate of 334.48, scoring 97 runs off just 29 balls, falling just three runs short of the fastest century in IPL history. His ability to adapt throughout the innings was particularly alarming for SRH. Initially targeting straight shots, he quickly adjusted to pull and cut the ball to the square boundaries as bowlers altered their lengths. Any deliveries that strayed onto his pads were dispatched over backward square leg. Even with SRH's defensive strategies, Sooryavanshi's momentum was unstoppable, as he hit Cummins for four sixes. His explosive innings helped the Rajasthan Royals post an impressive total of 243 for 8, showcasing his immense potential.