Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (PTI Image)
Teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who turns 15 today, is among the most destructive batsmen in Indian cricket and the Indian Premier League. His stunning 35-ball century in last season’s Championship was just the beginning, as he has continued to produce big runs and impactful innings across levels over the past year.Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise saw him make his India A debut at the end of 2025, appearing in the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup under Jitesh Sharma. The tournament gave him early exposure to the senior dressing room, allowing him to interact with players on the sidelines of the national team and further emphasizing his enormous potential.
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Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Jitesh shared insights into the youngster’s journey and the bond they developed, both during the India A period and during Suryavanshi’s tenure at the Rajasthan Royals academy near Nagpur.
“Today he said to me, ‘Bro, if you say anything about me, be careful,'” Geach joked. “A very nice boy. He used to come to Talegaon for training, where the RR academy is. That’s where I met him. Then we went to play in Qatar, where I was captain, and that’s where we struck up our relationship.”When asked about the source of Suryavanshi’s remarkable batting power, Gitesh pointed to his natural strength, especially his wrists.“It’s a natural strength, he’s very strong. His wrists are bigger than mine – I gave him my watch to wear and it was tight for him,” he said, highlighting the physical attributes behind the youngster’s explosive strikes.
“Chhota Hulk hai woh (He’s a little kid),” Gitesh added, drawing a comparison with the popular Marvel character. The description is apt, considering that Sooryavanshi smashed 11 sixes during his IPL hundred and constantly relied on powerful hitting to control the bowlers.Jitesh also revealed the fear factor the youngster has already created among the bowlers in the nets.“He swings his racket so hard that the player is afraid that if he hits it directly, he might die.
I know bowlers from RR, and they say they don’t bowl the ball because he can hit it straight. “So they throw short balls to make him hit it away from them,” he explained.With Sanju Samson no longer in the mix, Sooryavanshi is set to take on a regular role at the top of the order for
Rajasthan
royal family. He will be part of a young batting unit that includes Yashavi Jaiswal and skipper
Ryan Baraj
They both understand the pressures of performance early in their careers.“He creates this fear. He’s like Nicholas Pooran, left-handed, a power hitter. You have a fear that he can hit you,” Geach said, comparing him to Nicholas Pooran. “And Nicholas also listens to Hindi songs,” he added, humorously.Sooryavanshi turns 15 just a day before the start of IPL 2026, and is heading into his second season with huge expectations. The opposition will likely come prepared with specific tactics, targeting him with short balls, slower deliveries and wider lines. How the young player from Bihar adapts to these challenges could shape the impact he makes next season.