Table of Contents
“Boss Baby” Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has received the ultimate endorsement for his Team India and Test cricket prospects. The “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar himself has said that the teenager could play Test cricket in the future.
Sooryavanshi had a record-breaking IPL 2026 where he made 776 runs at a strike rate of 237 and broke Chris Gayle’s 14-year-old record for the most sixes in an IPL season.
The breaking point came when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 97 runs from just 29 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator and came within inches of breaking Gayle’s record for the fastest century in IPL history by balls faced.
Right now, Sooryavanshi still holds the IPL 2026 Orange Cap but could lose it during the IPL final between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Gujarat Titans on Sunday.
“He is something truly special” – Sachin Tendulkar
Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Tendulkar spoke about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and what makes the 15-year-old so good. Tendulkar explained that the boy wonder’s wrist work was the defining factor behind his exploits.
“Everyone is talking about Sooryavanshi, and I watched him bat – it was magnificent,” Tendulkar said. “I mean, he is something truly special. And not just the ability to hit the ball, but what also fascinated me was the wrist work that he has.
“To be able to play in all directions of the ground, you need good wrist work. And he is not slogging the ball. He is just picking the line and length earlier than the rest of the guys, and he can clear the rope comfortably,” he continued.
“I would tell him to just be himself” – Sachin Tendulkar
When asked what advice he would give to the youngster if the southpaw wanted to succeed in Test cricket, Tendulkar said that no pressure should be put on the boy.
Tendulkar said that Test cricket would come with its own challenges, but that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needed to stay true to himself and not get muddled by the multiple things said to him.
“I would tell him to just be himself,” he said. “There is always a first time. In Test cricket, along with age, he will learn how to deal with various challenges. [It’s about] having a solution-oriented mindset. Problems are always going to be there. Problems will be there till the last day of your career, till the last ball you face.”
“The bowler is asking a question every ball. Now, what solutions do you find? He’s kind of a player who looks very confident, very, very sure of what he wants to do, and I would not want to play around with his instincts,” he said.
“The way he sees the ball and the way he responds to that, if that signal is interrupted – if you put a lot of hurdles in between that by telling him multiple things – that’s where the real challenge would be. I would give him the freedom to go out and bat the way he does. Along with time, he will learn to deal with other challenges of the game,” Tendulkar added.
“An exciting talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs encouragement” – Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar concluded his address by saying that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needed to be encouraged to go further in his career.
He also said that no pressure should be put on the youngster and that nature should take its due course in handing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a Test debut rather than rushing him into things.
“Not just me, but everyone would want to see him [playing Test cricket] at some stage. I don’t know when that is going to happen. But an exciting talent needs encouragement. And if he’s doing well, then we need to encourage and support him and enjoy above all, and not put pressure on him constantly, you know, he should play this, or he shouldn’t be doing this, or he should be picked in whatever squad. Leave that to the guys [selectors] who are responsible for that,” Tendulkar said.
Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar proposes massive T20 and IPL change; wants Impact Player rule scrapped
