Lalit Modi praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him ‘the face of Indian cricket in the future’ for his impressive batting skills as a teenage opener for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. Sooryavanshi has been in top form this season, currently ranking seventh in the Orange Cap race with 200 runs in five matches at an average of 40.00 and a strike rate of 263.15, including two half-centuries. In a standout performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he scored 78 runs off 26 balls at a striking rate of 300.00, narrowly missing out on a century.
Modi expressed disbelief at Sooryavanshi’s talent during his debut season in 2025, initially questioning if the youngster was really 14 years old. He highlighted the impact of the IPL in nurturing young talents like Sooryavanshi in India, stating that there are many more promising cricketers waiting to shine. Sooryavanshi made headlines last year as the youngest player in IPL history when he debuted at 14 years and 23 days old, and has since formed a strong opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for Rajasthan Royals. With his consistent performances, Sooryavanshi has solidified his place as a rising star in Indian cricket.
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