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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been making headlines for his amazing performance in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The former cricketers, coaches, and the cricketers turned commentators are all awestruck with the way the 15-year-old sensation has taken the rich cash league to a different level. He played a breathtaking knock of 97 runs off 29 deliveries last night.
The recent one commenting on Vaibhav is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer. The former Australia opener highlights the wonderboy’s batting talent and also shares his experience of watching him bat from the opposition’s dugout. After innings against LSG where he scored 93 runs, Langer asked for a photo post-match.
It involved a 15-year-old boy from a small village in Bihar- Justin Langer on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
“Last week, I did something I have only done twice in my life I asked another athlete for a selfie. The first time was a couple of years ago at Optus Stadium when I met my childhood AFL hero, Stephen Michael of South Fremantle. The second time happened recently, and it involved a 15-year-old boy from a small village in Bihar.”
“His name is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He had just dismantled my Lucknow Super Giants, sending the ball to every corner of the ground with a level of power and confidence that seemed impossible for someone his age. This IPL season alone, he has smashed 53 sixes the second-highest tally by any batter in any T20 tournament in history, behind only Chris Gayle.”
Justin Langer left awestruck witnessing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless mindset
After watching him bat, Langer posted on his LinkedIn account, writing about the boy wonder. However, mentioning that Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes in a season in IPL was broken last night by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck 65 in a single season and on the night he hit 12 maximums.
“He is already the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket. And remarkably, he is still only 15 years old. After spending 35 years around the game, I can honestly say I have never seen anything quite like him. Not just because of the runs, the sixes, or the records, but because of the way he plays. The fearlessness.”
“The conviction. The complete absence of hesitation. He delivered another breathtaking performance in the playoff clash last night, reinforcing the feeling that we may be witnessing something truly extraordinary. Watching him got me thinking about talent a word we use constantly in sport, yet one we rarely take the time to fully understand.”
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is taking down big names
Last night, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke multiple records as he became the first batter to score 600+ runs in an IPL season with a strike rate of over 200. He also became the first uncapped batter to score the most runs in an IPL season, scoring 680* runs, and will have an opportunity to go past 700 runs tomorrow.
“Interestingly, while Vaibhav was taking Indian cricket by storm, another athlete was making history on the other side of the world. In Melbourne, 38-year-old Scott Pendlebury was preparing to play his 433rd game and break the all-time VFL/AFL appearance record. Two athletes. Two continents. Two entirely different interpretations of the same concept.”
“One represents raw, breathtaking ability — the kind of gift that leaves spectators speechless. The other embodies mastery built over decades, where consistency, discipline, and relentless commitment have transformed talent into greatness. I found myself reflecting on both stories this week while writing for The Nightly.”
“So what is talent, really? Is it the rare gift that announces itself at 15 and changes the sport overnight? Or is it the craft developed over hundreds of games and countless years of dedication? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between. But I’m curious: which version of talent moves you more — the gift, or the craft?”
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