As the temperature soared and the humidity climbed on Saturday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi turned heads during an extended hitting session in the nets at the Wankhede Stadium.
The youngster looked in sublime touch, taking apart the net bowlers with a range of clean, powerful strokes and barely putting a foot wrong. One hit, in particular, stood out — struck with such timing and force that it nearly crashed into the media box.
It was an eye-catching session from the Rajasthan Royals batsman ahead of his first appearance at the iconic venue, where his team faces Mumbai Indians in a must-win Indian Premier League (IPL) clash on Sunday.
Coincidentally, when the boy wonder takes the field, close to 20,000 children from under-served backgrounds, tribal communities and villages across Mumbai, Maharashtra and Gujarat, including more than 200 children with special needs, will be in attendance as part of the annual Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative, in partnership with Reliance Foundation.
While many in the stands will be close to his age and cheering his every move, for Sooryavanshi, the challenge will be to stay grounded and go about his business as usual.
“I’m sure he’s very excited (to play at the Wankhede),” Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney said. “We don’t really have to talk to him much; he’s just in his little bubble. He practices hard, and then when he goes out to play, he just enjoys himself. It’s pretty rare that I’ve seen that. I’ve been in cricket for 40 years and I haven’t seen that before…”
That innocence, coupled with an indomitable spirit, is what continues to drive the 15-year-old forward.
He has been the breakout star of the tournament this season and, with 579 runs from 13 outings, he currently holds the Orange Cap. Having shattered several records, including becoming the fastest and youngest player to reach 500 runs in an IPL season, and with more than 50 sixes already to his name this season, inching closer to Chris Gayle’s record, Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket.
However, the Royals team management has taken every possible measure to ensure he is handled with care. While the franchise has largely kept the youngster away from the media spotlight, the support staff too has made sure not to take things for granted.
“We’ve got a really good team, managerial staff, and support staff, who are looking after him. He’s very young, and the nights are long and that sort of stuff. So, we look after him in the evenings, make sure he practices accordingly, and look after all those small things which you have to do with a young boy,” Penney said.
While he has impressed one and all with his fearless batting, there have also been questions around Sooryavanshi’s fitness, considering he has mostly been used as an Impact Player and has spent limited time on the field.
However, Penney dismissed any such concerns.
“He is a very good fielder. He’s got great hands. He moves well. He dives. He anticipates. He’s got all that. It’s just the way it’s worked out. And sometimes with him opening the batting, him going in in the second innings being fresh, it’s worked for us,” the Zimbabwean said.
“So, there’s no specific reason why, ‘Oh, he’s a bad fielder. We’re not playing him in the field.’ It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just circumstances. Sometimes, there was maybe a slightly better fielder or a more experienced fielder. But generally, it’s been to keep him fresh for his batting…”
Talking about his running between the wickets, Penney said with a smile: “It is very good. But he doesn’t really have to run between the wickets too much, does he?”
So far, that approach has worked perfectly for Sooryavanshi. On Sunday, at the Wankhede Stadium, the teenager will once again walk out carrying the hopes of Rajasthan Royals and will look to guide the team into yet another playoffs.
Published on May 23, 2026
