Sooryavanshi is yet to turn 15, but has already made big runs in his cricketing career so far, including being the fastest Indian batter to hit a century in the IPL (in just 35 balls), and was retained by Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He\u2019s also coming on the back of being Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final in the 2026 Men\u2019s U19 World Cup, won by India. \u201cIt is very important for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not to let success or failure get to his head. It\u2019s quite a sensitive age because he is just about 15 years old. At this stage, he potentially has a 20-year professional career ahead of him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn today\u2019s time, where longevity is not always a priority and careers can be short, you can still achieve a lot in 6 to 8 years. But Vaibhav could have a much longer journey. Naturally, it is important that someone consistently stays with him as a guide, a good mentor who can support him over time, the role Rahul Dravid played last year,\u201d said Pathan on JioStar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also spoke about how Sooryavanshi needs to constantly improve his game to stay ahead of the opposition\u2019s plans to counter him. \u201cAt the same time, he must keep improving his game constantly. It is possible that this season, teams may plan against him, like bowling consistently outside the off stump and keeping the ball away from his reach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe will need to counter that, even if it comes with the risk of getting out. Also, he might face the same challenges that Abhishek Sharma did, different types of bowling and constant variations in pace, so how he adapts and finds ways to score in those situations will be key.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ex-India opener Aakash Chopra said Sooryavanshi\u2019s fearless approach must be tempered with consistency in IPL\u2019s high-pressure environment. \"\u2018If the first one is there to be hit, I will go for it\u2019 is a very good philosophy. But if it happens three times that you go for the first ball and, God forbid, you don\u2019t connect properly and get out, that is when problems start. The IPL is a different beast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe will need to counter that, even if it comes with the risk of getting out. Also, he might face the same challenges that Abhishek Sharma did, different types of bowling and constant variations in pace, so how he adapts and finds ways to score in those situations will be key.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe got some exposure last year, when Rahul Dravid was there as well, and you could see tears in his eyes after getting out in one of the games. This time, there are expectations, and he will carry that burden. Even though we are talking about him, saying that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will come and score runs, so in that regard, it is a huge season for him,\" he added. <\/p>\r\n\r\n