Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Stuns Mumbai Indians, Earns Hardik Pandya’s Praise

Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the IPL 2026 stage in spectacular fashion, smashing a breathtaking 14-ball 39 against Mumbai Indians. His fearless display at the top of the order played a pivotal role as Rajasthan Royals powered their way to an imposing 150/3 in just 11 overs after being sent in to bat.

Teen Terror at the Crease

Sooryavanshi showed no signs of nerves against one of cricket’s most formidable attacks. He took on India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah without hesitation, launching him for two towering sixes, while also dismantling Shardul Thakur for two sixes and a boundary. His innings came to a close only through a sharp catch by Tilak Varma at deep extra cover, but not before leaving the cricketing world in awe.

Yashasvi Jaiswal complemented the teenager brilliantly, stroking an unbeaten 77 off just 32 balls. Jaiswal raced to his half-century off 23 balls and finished the innings in dominant fashion, cementing his position as IPL 2026’s highest run-scorer with 170 runs from three matches.

Pandya Full of Admiration

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was effusive in his praise for the youngster at the post-match presentation. He called it “quite fascinating” to watch a 16 or 17-year-old bat with such fearlessness and shot-making ability, wishing Sooryavanshi the very best for his future.

For Sooryavanshi, the numbers tell their own story — 122 runs in three matches at an average of 40.66 and a stunning strike rate of nearly 249 — making him one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket today.