Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler has made a stunning declaration about India’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling the 14-year-old “the best player I’ve ever seen” after his record-breaking performance in the Under-19 World Cup 2026 final.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on the Love for Cricket podcast, Buttler could not hide his admiration following Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls against England — an innings that powered India to a commanding 411/9 and eventually a 100-run victory, sealing a record-extending sixth U-19 World Cup title.
“My statement is he’s the best player I’ve ever seen, ’cause I’m like, who else was doing this at 14 years old?” Buttler said. “If he’s doing that at 14, what’s he gonna be doing at 16, 18, 20?”Fellow England pacer Mark Wood, also part of the podcast, admitted the comment was a bold one, replying: “That’s a pretty big statement from you,” before asking whether Sooryavanshi could become an absolute superstar or risk being derailed by early hype.
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Do you agree with Jos Buttler’s assessment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the best player at 14 years old?
Buttler, however, backed the youngster’s credentials, pointing out that Sooryavanshi has already delivered on bigger stages. “I don’t see how he can’t be,” Buttler said, highlighting the teenager’s IPL century and fearless approach. “He’s already played… he’s got a hundred in the IPL. He hit his first ball in the IPL for six.”Sooryavanshi’s final knock rewrote the record books — featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes at a blistering strike rate of 218.75, with a remarkable 150 runs coming purely through boundaries. Finishing the tournament with 439 runs and the Player of the Tournament award, Sooryavanshi has not just captured a trophy — he has ignited conversations about cricket’s next generational superstar.
