One of the enduring images for those who watched Sachin Tendulkar bat in Australia in 1991-92 could well be the expression on Merv Hughes’ moustached face. The big fast bowler had been straight-driven gloriously for a boundary by the curly haired, baby-faced teenager at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Hughes was surprised. Or shocked, rather. Maybe bewildered, even.
More than three decades later, the most fearful bowlers of this era are sporting similar looks. They are being tormented by another baby-faced teenager. Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi: he spares none.
This one’s hair is not curly. And he bats left-handed. And he prefers to deal in sixes mostly (he belongs to the Twenty20 generation, after all).
His journey has only begun, but make no mistake, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is blessed with genius. The latest proof came on Tuesday night at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Australia’s Merv Hughes bowls to Mohammed Azharuddin as non-striker Sachin Tendulkar looks on in Perth on February 2, 1992. | Photo Credit: VV KRISHNAN
Australia’s Merv Hughes bowls to Mohammed Azharuddin as non-striker Sachin Tendulkar looks on in Perth on February 2, 1992. | Photo Credit: VV KRISHNAN
T20 cricket may not usually produce long-lasting memories. But some of the shots Sooryvanashi played – over extra-cover against the two quick Yadavs, Mayank and Prince, and the ramp off the latter – will be remembered.
A six over the wicketkeeper’s head isn’t cricket’s prettiest of shots, but when he played with such timing, such inventiveness, you didn’t mind. You admire.
Sooryvanshi’s 38-ball 93 came in a must-win match for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants (to retain hopes of IPL playoffs). He had begun sedately – 11 off 12 balls.
ALSO READ | LSG head coach Langer: Watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat is breathtaking
He played second fiddle to stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had given the team the quick start that was required in pursuit of a challenging total. He curbed his aggression for a while: what his team needed wasn’t a cameo, but a match-winning knock.
Then, he exploded. The unrelated Yadavs and the other bowlers soon began to resemble Hughes as Sooryavanshi overtook LSG’s Mitchell Marsh to become the leading run-scorer for IPL 2026.
The Orange Cap could not have found a more deserving batter.
Published on May 20, 2026
