Sanjay Bangar Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a Stellar IPL 2026

New Delhi: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sensational start to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has already turned heads, with former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar predicting a blockbuster season for the teenage sensation after Rajasthan Royals’ dominant eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Monday.

Dropped for nought, Sooryavanshi raced to a 15-ball fifty - the third fastest in IPL history - with four fours and five sixes, powering RR to 74 without loss in the Powerplay. Though he fell soon after for 52, the damage was done.

“Vaibhav Suryavanshi was a class apart. He dominated a good bowling attack. He took on Matt Henry, a new ball bowler, who challenges top batters internationally. He toyed with Khaleel Ahmed, who swings the ball both ways. He got the better of Anshul Kamboj, known for hitting the deck hard with good length deliveries. He even made life difficult for mystery bowler Noor Ahmad.

“At the age of 15, he dominated four quality bowlers with his fearless batting and forced them to move away from their strengths. Henry had to bowl slower balls. Khaleel had to try different things. He put pressure on all of them. That shows Vaibhav, with his fearless approach, is getting into the minds of established bowlers. I admired that quality in his innings. The start this wonder boy has had makes sure it’s going to be a cracker of a season for him,” Bangar said on Jio Star.

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim also heaped praise on the youngster, highlighting both his aggression and growing maturity at the crease.

“Vaibhav Suryavanshi started IPL 2026 from where he left off last season. It was yet another dominating show of aggressive batting. A joy to watch him execute the shots he played. He showed maturity in his knock, targeting the right deliveries, and he did that by batting at a strike-rate of more than 250. The more he progresses at this level, the better he will become.

“He is becoming very sagacious now and one can sense there is some kind of wisdom in the way he executes his shots. The intent remains the same. There is aggression. There is this intent of clearing the boundary whenever he gets an opportunity, be it against a pace bowler or even against a spin bowler,” Karim said. IANS

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