Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aura seemed to have enveloped the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 15-year-old’s talent continues to leave the greats of the game spellbound, especially his ability to strike against some of the best in the business. Be it a Jasprit Bumrah or Josh Hazlewood, the Sooryavanshi has humbled everyone, showcasing both confidence and clarity in his approach.
The next in line is Delhi Capitals‘ Mitchell Starc, who is most likely to begin his IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals on Friday in Jaipur.
Ahead of the much-anticipated match-up, former cricketer and ESPNcricinfo expert Ian Bishop said that Sooryavanshi’s strong mindset and sound technique have allowed him in the IPL 2026 to stand tall against elite bowlers at such a young
age.
“I think his psychological makeup is efficient enough to take on the best bowlers in the world. He took on Jasprit Bumrah. Technically, he’s kind of unique with his bat swing, more like a baseball sort of swing,” Bishop told the media ahead of IPL 2026 Revenge Week.
What stands out, according to Bishop, is the lack of a clear weakness in the youngster’s game, something that has forced even experienced bowlers to constantly rethink their strategies.
“It’s very hard to see exactly what his weakness is because the back of a length delivery has worked against him, for example, in the under-19 World Cup and against Sunrisers Hyderabad. But then if you don’t get that back-of-a-length delivery where he pulls and top edges early, those same deliveries disappear out of the park.
“So, I think, technically, he’s set up very well. He has a number of world-class bowlers in this tournament going through plan A, plan B, plan C, plan E, F, and G. And that’s a good sign that he has all these veterans of the game, having to go through a whole host of plans as they try to go yorker, yorker, at him in the previous game. So I think he’s set up well,” he added.
With bowlers running out of ideas and Sooryavanshi continuing to attack with confidence, the teenager’s rise is quickly becoming one of the most exciting stories of the season.
Sooryavanshi in IPL 2026
Sooryavanshi is currently among the top run-getters of the season. He recently scripted history by becoming the youngest player to reach 1,000 T20 runs and the fastest to 400 runs in a single IPL season, achieving the latter in just 167 balls.
His season highlight includes a blistering 36-ball century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, including a record-breaking 12 sixes – the most by an Indian in an IPL innings. With a strike rate hovering above 230, the Under-19 World Cup winner has become the tournament’s most feared opener.
