Sunil Gavaskar has hailed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as ‘God’s gift to Indian cricket’ following his explosive performances in IPL 2026, advocating for his selection in the upcoming T20I tour of England.
In a remarkable display of talent, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the standout performers of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Following his dazzling innings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has publicly endorsed the young talent, describing him as ‘God’s gift to Indian cricket.’ Gavaskar’s commendation comes after Sooryavanshi’s recent performance in the Eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where he scored an impressive 97 runs off just 29 balls, leading his team to a significant victory.
During the match against SRH, Sooryavanshi demonstrated exceptional skill and power, hitting 12 sixes and equaling the record for the fastest fifty in IPL playoff history, reaching the milestone in a mere 16 deliveries. Additionally, he fell just three runs short of breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest century in IPL history. Nevertheless, Sooryavanshi did set a new benchmark for the most sixes in a single IPL season, bringing his total to an astonishing 65 sixes.
Gavaskar, who served as the former captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed his belief that age should not be a barrier to selection, particularly for a player who has shown such dominance against seasoned bowlers. Speaking on the sports platform Sports Tak, he stated, “2026 will be remembered as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Year. He is ready to play T20 International cricket. For the England away T20 series, he will be selected. I mean he deserves to be selected after this brilliant show. If you don’t give him chance after this performance, when will you give him chance?”
The former cricketer emphasized that Sooryavanshi’s youth should not overshadow his performance, noting, “Don’t go by his age. He is hitting those bowlers who are older than him. In fact, at 15, he is hitting bowlers with 15 years of international experience. Just look at his fearless approach.” However, Gavaskar also acknowledged the potential challenges that the Indian selectors may face when considering Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the national squad, as established players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson already occupy top-order batting positions.
“Yes, there will be a headache as to whom you should drop. But it is a happy headache to have. When your option is whom to drop, that speaks of your country’s depth of talent,” he remarked. Gavaskar suggested that Sooryavanshi would likely be included in the squad of 15 or 16 players, with the decision of whether he would play in the starting eleven to be determined later. He noted that the experience gained by Sooryavanshi in the national team setting would be invaluable.
Technical Skills and Comparisons
Gavaskar expressed admiration for Sooryavanshi’s technical prowess, particularly his ability to hit sixes with precision, setting him apart from traditional power-hitters. He commented, “What we saw yesterday, even when I take into account some of his earlier innings, was different. He is not just special; he is very, very extraordinarily special.” He further elaborated on Sooryavanshi’s technique, explaining that while many think of a slogger when envisioning six-hitters, Sooryavanshi’s ability to strike the ball cleanly over long-on and long-off demonstrates a unique skill set.
Gavaskar also noted how Sooryavanshi handled short balls, stating, “When one bowls short balls, he comes inside the line and hooks and pulls it with such cleanliness, that’s a rarity. Not just me, but everyone apart from SRH players were sad when he got out at 97 and missed the record for fastest century. Sooryavanshi is God’s gift to Indian cricket.” He drew parallels between Sooryavanshi and his first impressions of another cricketing prodigy, Sachin Tendulkar, while stopping short of making direct comparisons. Gavaskar reflected on his memories of Tendulkar, remarking, “Sachin had all qualities. He could attack, he could defend, all shots in the book.”
Emotional Moments
In an emotional exchange, Gavaskar recalled a moment before practice when Sooryavanshi approached him and touched his feet, a gesture reflecting the respect ingrained in Indian culture. Gavaskar remarked, “Our upbringing teaches us to respect our elders. Not just me, Sanjay Bangar was standing alongside me and he touched his feet also. He might have expected that I would say something; I told him ‘Lage Raho’ (Carry on).”
As the IPL season progresses, Sooryavanshi’s statistics are striking. He has accumulated 680 runs in 15 innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 242.85, including one century and four fifties, alongside hitting 55 fours and 65 sixes. This performance marks one of the most remarkable breakout seasons in IPL history, solidifying Sooryavanshi’s status as a rising star in Indian cricket.
