NEW DELHI: Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was at his destructive best throughout IPL 2026, dispatching some of the world’s leading bowlers into the stands with ease. Known for his fearless approach and explosive strokeplay, the teenager consistently kept the scoreboard moving at a breathtaking pace while leaving bowlers struggling to contain him.Sooryavanshi was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs from 16 innings at an average of 48.50 and a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His season included one century and five half-centuries, earning him the Orange Cap. The Rajasthan Royals opener also rewrote the record books by surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous IPL record of 59 sixes in a season, smashing an astonishing 72 maximums during IPL 2026.Although Rajasthan Royals’ campaign ended with a defeat in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi dominated the awards ceremony. He walked away with the Most Valuable Player award, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Orange Cap, and Super Sixes of the Season honours.After collecting multiple awards, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin jokingly pointed out that the only award Sooryavanshi had missed was for hitting the most fours in the tournament.Responding to Ashwin, Sooryavanshi revealed his ambition to excel in the longest format of the game as well.“Yes, I will have to play on the ground because the next assignment is in a one-day format. I have practised a lot with a red ball, but no one has seen me do that, but they will soon,” said Sooryavanshi.“People think I love to hit every ball, but this is the T20 format, and coaches give me a free hand to go all guns blazing. And I hit the ball only because I know I can hit them, and it isn’t out of compulsion,” he said.“I want to play Test cricket, obviously, because my father also taught me that it is the ultimate format, and I have played it as well. I’m yet to play many games, though. I played Ranji Trophy cricket but did not get too many opportunities, and it was challenging for me. But I am going to keep working on that aspect of my game,” he added.Former India chief selector MSK Prasad described Sooryavanshi as a “super talent” and one of the “best in the world in T20 cricket”, urging selectors to fast-track him into the national side for the upcoming Ireland series later this month.“He is not just a prodigy or a super talent. He is already among the best in the world in T20 cricket. He should be fast tracked immediately into the Indian side. He should be picked for the Ireland series which happens after the India A tri series in Sri Lanka,” Prasad told PTI.“I think, it’s nicely poised for him to be drafted into the senior Indian team. I think he is going to flourish in the India A tri series in Sri Lanka as well. See, there is no point holding him back. He is going to play for India soon and he is going to play for a long time,” the former India wicketkeeper-batter predicted.
Do you believe IPL performances should significantly influence national selection?
“Playing India A and then playing for India is usually the norm but playing high pressure IPL among the best in the world is the best way to get into the Indian side. I think the selectors are also thinking on the same line. It’s just a matter of time that he will play for India and will play for a long time,” he reiterated.
