How many more signs does Indian cricket need? At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already done things most international cricketers never manage in their entire careers. He has broken Chris Gayle’s long-standing six-hitting record, become the first uncapped player to score more than 700 runs in an IPL season, rewritten Powerplay batting history and made some of the world’s best bowlers look ordinary.
Now, Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara believes the teenager is ready for the next challenge: India. There’s one thing about judging a player by his performances. However, when you work with a player, especially a generational talent like Sooryavanshi, you get to know about his antics and character like no one else.
After watching Sooryavanshi from close quarters throughout IPL 2026, the Sri Lankan legend had little doubt when asked whether the youngster was prepared for international cricket.
“Yeah, I mean, you never know if anyone’s ready until they play. But with everything Vaibhav has shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge you throw at him,” Sangakkara said after Rajasthan Royals’ defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. “And I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon. He’s batted with a lot of maturity.”
Coming from one of cricket’s greatest batters, that is perhaps the biggest compliment Sooryavanshi could receive. But he has to make hearing all this a habit now. After all, he is not just a regular T20 talent. He is much more than that. World cricket hasn’t seen a 15 year old playing a tennis forehand shot to a bouncer bowled by a 6’8 pacer for a six down the ground. He’s an anomaly.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ends IPL 2026 with another masterpiece
Even in defeat, Sooryavanshi managed to leave the cricket world speechless.
Facing a Gujarat Titans attack featuring Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan in Qualifier 2, the teenager produced another outstanding innings. Unlike his explosive 97 off 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, this knock was different. The pitch was different. The bowling approach was different. And fittingly, Sooryavanshi played differently. He resisted initially and played according to the field.
GT targeted him relentlessly with short-pitched bowling. Wickets were falling around him. The pressure was immense. Sooryavanshi simply adapted.
He started cautiously by his standards, reaching 46 from 25 balls before shifting gears. What followed was another exhibition of power, timing and game awareness as he smashed 96 off just 47 deliveries and carried Rajasthan Royals to 214/6.
For Sangakkara, that innings revealed something even more valuable than six-hitting.
“It was a much tougher innings with wickets falling around him. He reads the game really well, and he’s got no fear,” Sangakkara said. That ability to adjust may be the most frightening aspect of Sooryavanshi’s game. Bowlers have tried pace, spin, yorkers, short balls and packed boundary fields. Nothing has consistently worked.
Record-tumbling season for Sooryavanshi
The teenager finished IPL 2026 with a staggering 776 runs, one of the greatest seasons ever produced by a batter in the tournament.
He became the first uncapped player ever to score more than 700 runs in a single IPL season. He also shattered Chris Gayle’s iconic record for most sixes in an IPL edition, finishing with an astonishing 67 maximums.
Then came perhaps the most absurd statistic of them all. Sooryavanshi became the first player in IPL history to score more than 500 runs exclusively in the Powerplay during a season. He accumulated 521 runs in the first six overs at a strike rate of 233.63, surpassing names like Virat Kohli, David Warner and Travis Head.
His next assignment will be India’s A tour of Sri Lanka, where he is expected to feature in a 50-over tri-series from June 9 to 21. But after what he has achieved over the last two months, attention has already shifted towards the senior team.
India have two T20Is against Ireland later in June before travelling to England for a five-match T20I series in July.
Fewest balls faced to reach 1000 IPL runs
- 440 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- 545 – Andre Russell
- 560 – Tim David
- 575 – Travis Head
- 575 – Phil Salt
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