What to expect from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026? For the average viewer, the sky’s the limit. The 14-year-old started his IPL career with a six off the first ball and then smashed a 35-ball hundred for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against the Gujarat Titans (GT). But a seasoned pro isn’t so sure.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi riding his luck?
Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa thinks Sooryavanshi has been riding his luck a bit ever since he made his IPL debut on April 19, 2025. It’s not that he hasn’t been exceptional or doesn’t have the talent; his 80-ball 175 against England in the Under-19 World Cup 2026 final proves that.
But he hasn’t been playing against top sides, and when he did in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, it didn’t go his way. Uthappa thinks he won’t have the same returns for RR in IPL 2026 that he did last year. Because by now, most teams will know where to bowl to him, which they didn’t have an idea of in the previous season.
“I have been keenly observing every game Vaibhav has played over the last 12 months. He is phenomenal. But if you are going to watch him bat, I feel he is riding his luck a little bit. And when the standard gets a little bit higher, a little tougher, and people now know where to bowl to him. The novelty has worn off. I think that right now, he is riding that luck a little bit, which is fine. I think this season will be educational for him and will serve him in the long run. He will still score runs, but I don’t think he will be all that he was last year,” Uthappa said on Star Sports.
14-year-old ready for another bang
But Uthappa’s former India teammate and fellow T20 World Cup winner, Irfan Pathan, disagrees. The former all-rounder believes that Sooryavanshi’s performance ever since the IPL 2025 season ended is enough evidence to suggest that he’ll do just fine for RR once again. In fact, Pathan predicts that the 14-year-old will smash another quick-fire fifty or a hundred.
“Even after the IPL, you maintain the same run wherever you play, and that is where he gives me a lot of confidence. If it were up and down here, then I would be afraid. I really think he will make another fast half-century minimum, or even a century,” Pathan replied.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stats in IPL & T20s
| Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | SR | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 7 | 252 | 101 | 36.00 | 206.55 | 1 | 1 |
| T20s | 18 | 701 | 144 | 41.23 | 204.37 | 3 | 1 |
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