At fifteen, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi carries himself like someone twice his age. Tuesday’s game crackled under pressure – Rajasthan Royals had to win or risk fading out of the IPL 2026 race. Facing Lucknow Super Giants, they needed every run; then came Sooryavanshi’s turn. He carved through the bowling, racing to 93 off just 38 deliveries. Chasing 221 never felt so steady once he took charge. That knock didn’t merely secure points – it lit up scoreboards and imaginations alike. His composure hinted at deeper currents, beyond mere numbers. Few teens blend nerve and clarity that way. The match outcome kept Rajasthan’s fate in their hands. Yet people left talking less about standings, more about promise. What he showed isn’t limited to franchise cricket. Something longer lingers – the shape of things possibly ahead for India’s national setup too.
That teenager from Bihar broke down his thinking during the tense chase, talking to Murali Kartik post-game. Though Rajasthan stood on the edge of playoff qualification with only one victory needed, Sooryavanshi carried himself without flash or frenzy.
“I don’t read papers and all,” he said with a smile when asked if he reads what is written about him. “Nothing much. I don’t really see too much, I don’t read newspapers and all, so I don’t think too much about it. I just think that this is only the start. If my career becomes long and I play for a long time, people will say many more things. My focus should just remain on the game and I should complete my journey.”
He made 11 runs from his first 12 deliveries in the game; after that, things shifted fast. Twenty-three balls later, he reached fifty, momentum building with every shot.
“I was just thinking, because I was sitting outside during the bowling innings, that the wicket looked good. I was thinking that today I shouldn’t rush too much at the start; I should take some time, and if I bat for a longer period, it’s going to help the batter at the other end as well. That was the mindset. I know I can hit two or three boundaries or sixes at any time, so I can take a little more time, not rush too much, and try to take the game right to the end,” he said.
When asked about his unique celebration, Sooryavanshi said he tries to do something new every day. “Even I don’t know what that was; even the last game’s celebration didn’t mean anything (kuch meaning nahi tha). I just keep trying new things.”
With Sunday’s final group clash coming up, Sooryavanshi said, “Our minds are set on that one last game – play it fully, feel every moment. Victory matters.” .
His skipper, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was full of praise for his young opening partner. “The way Vaibhav batted, he absolutely killed the game. I wanted to play good cricketing shots and get the momentum. Vaibhav and I said one of us should play till the end, and he killed the game.”
