Shreyas Iyer and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has lavished rich praise on Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “spectacular talent” and tipping him as “one for the future” after his explosive run in IPL 2026.Sooryavanshi has been one of the standout performers this season, amassing 246 runs in six innings at a staggering strike-rate of over 236, turning heads with his fearless approach at the top.“He is a spectacular talent, and all the adjectives would be pretty less for him,” Iyer said. “The way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum he creates before the delivery — I think he is one for the future.”‘Be yourself’: Iyer’s mantra for fearless battingIyer, who has himself been in fine touch with 208 runs this season, underlined the importance of self-belief and individuality in modern T20 cricket — a philosophy he believes aligns perfectly with Sooryavanshi’s game.“Whenever I speak to players, my only message is: just be yourself. Don’t try to emulate or mimic anyone,” he said. “When you are fearless and flamboyant in your own way, you don’t have to copy anyone.”The Punjab captain credited this mindset for the success of his own openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, both of whom have crossed 200 runs this season.“When you tell these guys they are match-winners, it instils confidence in them. They can just go out there and play freely,” he added.Reflecting on his own batting, Iyer recalled a standout moment against Jasprit Bumrah, where instinct took over. “It was completely instinctive. When you are facing probably the best bowler in the world, you have to back your instincts,” he said, emphasising clarity of thought and emotional control in high-pressure situations.While Iyer remains focused on guiding Punjab Kings to their maiden title, his admiration for Sooryavanshi highlights a broader shift in the league — where young, fearless batters are redefining the tempo of the game.

2 min readMumbaiApr 20, 2026 03:11 PM IST

Rohit Sharma availability for the IPL 2026 game against Gujarat Titans hangs in the balance as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that he sustained in the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The Indian Express understands that the 38-year-old will be travelling to Narendra Modi Stadium much early with the team to assess his fitness. Any hamstring scare takes a player minimum eight days to recover fully and the chances of him playing today remain bleak.

Rohit had limped off after experiencing discomfort in his hamstring in last Sunday’s match against RCB. He went to miss next game against Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium.

Babar Azam (Pic credit: X)

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has launched a strong defence of Babar Azam, calling it “unfair” to single him out over strike-rate concerns in T20 cricket while insisting the country lacks ultra-aggressive batters.Speaking after a Pakistan Super League match, Mahmood, assistant and bowling coach for Peshawar Zalmi, questioned the narrative around Babar’s approach, pointing to the broader limitations in Pakistan’s batting pool.“The problem for Babar Azam was what was demanded from him. He was forced to bat at number four in the World Cup for his low strike rate,” Mahmood said.He added that comparisons with other batters were misplaced. “If I look at others, the best batter of Pakistan in the T20 World Cup was Sahibzada Farhan. He has a strike rate of around 135 in T20Is. Babar has 128, so there’s not much difference.”‘Utilise Babar Azam properly’Mahmood, who played in the IPL as a British passport holder from 2012 to 2015, representing Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) and Kolkata Knight Riders, made it clear that expectations need to be realistic, stressing that Pakistan simply do not have players capable of consistently striking at 190-200.“We should admit that Pakistan doesn’t have 190-200 strike-rate players. Babar Azam should be utilised properly like we utilised him in this PSL. He sets the platform for the other batters to hit the ball,” he said.His remarks come at a time when Babar has answered critics emphatically on the field. Leading Peshawar Zalmi, the star batter smashed a stunning unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators, powering his side to a massive 255/3.The knock was remarkable not just for its power but control — Babar faced over 50 deliveries while playing just a single dot ball, a rare feat in T20 cricket.It also marked the end of a long wait, as he brought up his first century in 783 days. In the process, Babar crossed 12,000 T20 runs in just 338 innings — faster than legends like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.Mahmood’s comments underline a broader debate in Pakistan cricket — whether the system is demanding a style of play its current talent pool isn’t equipped to deliver.