Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after another explosive performance for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. The 15-year-old opener smashed a rapid 36 off just 16 balls against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur, helping RR gain early momentum in their run chase. His knock included three boundaries and three sixes as he fearlessly attacked star pacers Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada during the powerplay.
Ashwin was highly impressed by Sooryavanshi’s fearless intent and believes the youngster has the talent to succeed not only in the IPL but across all three formats of international cricket.
“He is taking every bowler down. I wouldn’t mind watching him in a Test match, and I wouldn’t mind watching him in all three formats of the game,” Ashwin said on JioHotstar.
The veteran cricketer also urged people to allow the youngster to enjoy his cricket freely without putting unnecessary pressure on him at such an early stage of his career. Ashwin pointed out that Sooryavanshi is only 15 and should be given the freedom to express himself naturally on the field.
Referring to his stunning 175-run knock in the recent Under-19 World Cup final, Ashwin described the left-handed batter as a “box-office player” capable of drawing crowds with his aggressive style and clean ball-striking ability.
“He is leaving no stone unturned and putting every ounce of force into the ball. The way he played in the U-19 World Cup final showed he has the ability to entertain fans everywhere,” Ashwin added.
