RR vs MI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless knock against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026 match on Tuesday (April 7) continues to draw widespread praise, with former India captain Anil Kumble hailing the youngster's remarkable composure and game awareness-particularly in his duel with Jasprit Bumrah, one of the best bowlers in the circuit.
Riding upon the batting efforts of Sooryavanshi and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajasthan Royals put up a commanding total of 150/3 in the allocated 11 overs. The fiery partnership of 80 runs between the two young batters took the game far beyond the visitors' reach. MI in response could only muster 123/9, losing the match by 27 runs.
Speaking after Rajasthan Royals' win in the rain-hit IPL clash, Kumble
was especially impressed with how the approached one of the world's best fast bowlers.
"Sooryavanshi makes it look easy against Bumrah. What stood out for me was how he set the bowler up. We've seen Bumrah set up batters so many times, but here it was the other way around," Kumble said on JioStar.
The moment that caught Kumble's attention came early in the innings when Sooryavanshi attacked Bumrah from the outset. After dispatching the first ball for a six, the youngster anticipated the change-up and waited for the slower delivery, sending it into the stands again.
"He knew what was coming. He was ready for that slower ball and executed perfectly. That's not just talent, that's awareness and confidence," the former India captain explained.
Beyond the duel, Kumble also highlighted Sooryavanshi's consistency and striking ability, noting how the youngster has maintained an extraordinary scoring rate throughout the tournament. "He's striking at close to 300 and consistently scoring 30-plus runs. That's outstanding at any level, let alone at his age," he added.
Former South Africa star Faf du Plessis, meanwhile, zoomed out to highlight the broader impact of Rajasthan Royals' young opening pair. "It was a great effort by Rajasthan Royals. They didn't miss a beat and were superior in all three departments. And who can forget that opening partnership? The two youngsters at the top are really taking this IPL by storm," he said on JioStar.
The former CSK and RCB batter's comments reflected how Sooryavanshi's fearless approach, combined with support from the other end, has given RR a decisive edge early in the season.
Sooryavanshi's performance in Guwahati-39 off just 14 balls-set the tone for Rajasthan Royals' dominant display and reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in IPL 2026. If his fearless approach and sharp cricketing mind continue to evolve, the teenager could well be one of the defining stories of the season.
