Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket; and for a good reason, why. His ascent started in IPL 2025, where the 15-year-old scored 252 runs in 7 matches, while this year, in IPL 2026, he has gone a step further to score 583 runs in 14 matches. There are calls of already inducting him into the Indian setup, and the process might have just started.
Arun Dhumal makes statement on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi was included in the India A side, for a tri-series in Sri Lanka, where Tilak Varma would be his skipper. That would give the fans another chance to see, as to what the teenage sensation can do. But the road to get him to the international arena has to be a carefully crafted, gradual journey.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal made it clear, that the BCCI and RR would have to ‘handhold’ him, under whose guidance he would only get better. “I feel the BCCI and the franchise would need to handhold him in terms of showing him the right way so that his temperament stays intact. Because sport is not only about physical skill, it is also about mental toughness,” Dhumal told The Times of India ahead of the IPL Eliminator.
“And definitely, we will do our bit to make sure that the kind of skill set he has allows him to perform for India for many, many years to come.” For now, the cricketer has one task up his sleeve now, to get his team into the qualifier 2, and eventually in the final.
Meanwhile, RR would be looking to get to their maiden title since 2008. They had won the inaugural title, but since then it has been an empty bag for them. Sooryavanshi holds the key for his team, who has been brilliant in the powerplays. He has scored 430 runs in The PP this year, where the SR has been 230. So, all eyes will be on him.
