Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the teenager’s ability and work ethic. Ever since the 15-year-old broke out on the scene last year, people have been amazed by both his talent and his mindset within the game.
Langer spoke after Sooryavanshi was declared the Player of the Match in Rajasthan Royals’ win over the Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Monday
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashes 93 from just 38 balls
As has been the trend in IPL 2026, Jaipur saw another runfest between RR and LSG on Monday. RR’s win made them the strongest contenders for the one remaining spot in the IPL playoffs.
Josh Inglis decided to make stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal pay for his decision to bowl first. Alongside his compatriot Mitchell Marsh, he put up 83 runs in the powerplay and eventually an opening stand of 109.
Inglis was dismissed by the young leg spinner Yash Raj Punia for 60 runs from just 29 balls. Punia came back to dismiss Nicholas Pooran as well. Mitchell Marsh carried on Inglis’ work by making 97 himself before being run out in the last over.
RR started their chase of 221 in an intentful fashion. While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was uncharacteristically sedate, Jaiswal took the mantle in the powerplay. After an opening stand of 75, Sooryavanshi decided to do what he does best.
Alongside Dhruv Jurel, Vaibhav put up 105 runs in just 7 overs. Eventually, Sooryavanshi holed out off Mohsin Khan for 93 runs in just 38 balls with 10 sixes and 7 fours. He had made just 11 runs off his first 12 balls.
When he was dismissed, the required run rate was very close to 6 runs per over, and Jurel saw the chase through without any hiccups, also completing his own fifty in the process.
“He’s just gonna get even better” – Langer
After the match, LSG Head Coach Justin Langer spoke in the post-match press conference and had nothing but praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Langer talked about the teenager’s bright future and said that despite his terrific achievements at a young age, the only way ahead for him was up.
“We’ve seen it all season, he’s the leading run scorer. In all my time, I’ve seen some amazing players in 35 years of cricket. To see a young man bat like that, not just tonight, but throughout the series, is breathtaking,” Langer said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently the Orange Cap holder in IPL 2026 and has held the title before as well. He has also hit 53 sixes this year, the second most by any player in a single IPL season.
“I think the last game, Mitchell Starc, who’s one of the all-time great white ball bowlers, he’s bowling and look at the expression on his face,” Langer recalled. “And Nortje, who’s a world-class international bowler and Sooryavanshi is hitting him. And the expression on their face is such that, ‘what is happening here?’
“The scary thing going forward is, if the expressions on the face of Mitch Starc and Nortje and every bowler tell a story now, what about when he learns how to bat? My gosh, he’s so young. So, yeah, he’s a brilliant, brilliant player. And it’s a real privilege to watch him bat, actually.”
“He can adapt” – Langer on Sooryavanshi playing in different conditions
Langer also backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to succeed in all types of playing conditions all across the world. Langer said that the youngster had the skill to adapt to the conditions presented in different parts of the world.
“People say to me, would Bradman have made so many runs in the days where they could wear helmets or blah, blah, blah. And I say, well, he would adapt. And Sooryavanshi’s that good. Wherever he plays, he’s going to adapt his game because where are they going to bowl to him? Honestly, where are they going to bowl to him? So, he’ll adapt. He’ll keep getting better and better, which is scary for world cricket,” he said.
Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to LSG confirmed? Teenager’s chat with Sanjiv Goenka fuels speculation
