Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Former South Africa batter and IPL great AB de Villiers heaped praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating that the opener’s game awareness at the age of just 15 is ‘remarkable’ after the Rajasthan Royals batter produced a breathtaking innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. The 15-year-old smashed a stunning 97 off just 29 balls to power Rajasthan Royals to a commanding total before they sealed a 47-run victory to enter Qualifier 2.
Reacting to the knock, de Villiers said what impressed him most was not just the shot-making but the maturity and calmness Sooryavanshi displayed in a high-pressure knockout game.
“What stood out most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad kept trying different plans, constantly changing the field and mixing their lengths to disrupt his rhythm, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young,” de Villiers told JioStar.
Sooryavanshi’s innings completely disrupted SRH’s bowling plans. Despite skipper Cummins opening with defensive fields and yorker-heavy tactics, the teenager countered every move with fearless strokeplay as RR raced to 125 in just eight overs. De Villiers highlighted how the youngster appeared ready for every tactical adjustment SRH attempted during the innings.
“Whether they bowled short or tried to surprise him with fuller deliveries, he seemed prepared for every plan and was in control against all of them,” De Villiers said.
