Vaibhav Suryavanshi (ICC photo)
New Delhi: Strike rate 331.58. Seven four. Five sixes. This isn’t just a statistical line – it’s a statement. And it bore the unmistakable Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stamp all over it. The young Indian star once again lived up to his reputation of shutting out bowlers off the first ball, scoring a stunning 19-ball 63 for DY Patil Blue against Indian Navy in the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup.
With IPL 2026 just over a month away, the timing of this attack couldn’t be more critical.
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Chasing 220, Vaibhav wasted no time settling down. Sixteen of the runs came from the first four deliveries he faced. By the end of just 12 balls, he already had 43 – bowlers scrambling, fielders scattering, the pace of the game being violently hijacked.His half-centuries reached his fifth – a six followed by a four – in just 14 deliveries.
He added another towering maximum before slumping for 63 off 19 balls, scoring a stunning 331.58.For those who have followed his rise, this is no surprise.Vaibhav rocked the Indian Premier League for the first time in 2025 when he smashed 35 balls against Gujarat Titans, becoming the youngest centurion in the history of the league and the fastest Indian to reach a century in the tournament. Those roles heralded the arrival of a new-age aggressor – fearless, unapologetic, and relentless in attack.
His dominance continued on the under-19 circuit. In 25 youth international matches, he has accumulated 1412 runs at an average of 56.48 and a notable strike rate of 165.72. Four centuries and seven fifties followed, including a stunning 175 off just 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final – an innings that sealed India’s victory.Even off the field, Vaibhav did things differently. He made headlines for skipping Class X board exams to prioritize cricket – a decision that now appears justified by the numbers.In 18 T20s so far, he has compiled 701 runs at a strike rate of 204.37, crossing 150 in 12 innings – a testament to his consistency in high-tempo cricket.In the DY Patil T20 Trophy, he simply carried that momentum forward.While Quar Pathak’s 87 and Nitin Tanwar’s unbeaten 57 powered the Indian Navy to 220, the spotlight inevitably returned to Vaibhav. Yash Dhoul (12 off 8), Sarfaraz Khan (27 off 19), Shashank Singh (20 off 12), Anand Paes (35* off 24) and Arjun Tendulkar (55* off 29) were all involved – but it was Vaibhav’s attack that set the tone.And if this is supposed to be a warm-up ahead of IPL 2026, bowlers across the franchises will be watching closely.See also: IND vs ZIM live score