IPL 2026 | 'The best player I have seen since Sachin Tendulkar': How RR discovered Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may only be 15, but the young batter is already creating massive excitement in Indian cricket. Rajasthan Royals were so impressed after watching him bat that they were ready to spend heavily to secure him for the future.

The teenager has become one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026 because of his fearless batting and natural talent at such a young age.

Former Bihar cricketer Samar Quadri recalled the first time he saw Vaibhav bat and immediately realised he was special. Quadri said he had already heard stories about the youngster before facing him in a local match.

“I had seen him in Patna. I was playing a match and had heard a lot about him. ‘There is a boy, there is a kid who plays amazingly well. So I got to see him when I bowled to him," Quadri told Wisden.

The leg-spinner was stunned when Vaibhav attacked him confidently despite his age and experience.

“And I saw the talent there because I am a leg-spinner who knows how to bowl to left-handers. And he (Sooryavanshi) whacked me over the covers. That was amazing. Those skills were amazing," he added.

Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket Zubin Bharucha said the franchise instantly knew Vaibhav was different during his first trial. According to him, the youngster handled every type of bowler confidently and looked completely fearless.

“I knew straightaway and I immediately sent a message to the CEO saying that we have got something completely generational here. He is the best player I have seen since Sachin Tendulkar," Bharucha said.

Bharucha even compared Vaibhav with stars like Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, saying the teenager looked even more impressive at a younger age.

“Probably better than Jaiswal when he first came. Also, left-handed, but this guy is only 13. Hahaha. So, probably the best 13-year-old in the history of our sport after SRT (Sachin Tendulkar)," he added.