Kamal Ghorui
Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling his rise a sign of how T20 cricket is rapidly evolving with fearless young talent. Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’, Rahul reflected on the impact Sooryavanshi has already made at just 15 years of age. “It’s phenomenal what the new-age cricketers are doing. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken world cricket by storm. Two centuries at the age of 15 is something I never even dreamt of doing,” Rahul said. Sooryavanshi’s numbers back that statement. In IPL 2026, he has scored 400 runs in nine matches at an average of 44.44 and a strike rate of 238.09, including a century and two fifties. His tally of 37 sixes is the highest in the tournament so far, putting him just six away from breaking Abhishek Sharma’s record of 42 sixes by an Indian in a single IPL season. Rahul also pointed to the broader shift in Indian cricket, highlighting how young players are now embracing an ultra-aggressive mindset and taking on even the very best without hesitation. “The amount of talent coming up in India is scary, especially in T20 cricket. These fearless prodigies are changing the way T20s are played. They don’t fear reputations or match situations,” he said. “Whether it’s a world-class bowler like Jasprit Bumrah or a seasoned campaigner like Pat Cummins, they go after every ball with the same intent. They don’t care if it’s the first over or the last. They just see the ball and want to hit it out of the park. That kind of mindset is rare, and it’s exactly what modern T20 cricket demands.” Sooryavanshi is also on the verge of another milestone. He has already smashed 99 sixes in just 27 T20 innings before turning 20, the most by any batter at that age. One more six will take him to a landmark 100, a feat that could stand for years. Rahul believes the IPL has played a massive role in shaping this new generation of power-hitters. “Five years ago, we weren’t producing as many six-hitting batters as England or Australia. Now, things have changed, thanks to the IPL,” he said. “These guys grew up wanting to hit sixes. When we were young, we had to learn to defend and leave the ball. Hitting in the air meant sitting out of nets. It was a different time. These youngsters practice six-hitting constantly. That’s why they’re so good.” With Sooryavanshi continuing to rewrite expectations at just 15, Rahul’s words underline a larger shift in the game, one where fearless hitting is no longer the exception but the norm.
