Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is my new favourite player: Pat Cummins amazed by RR wonderboy
Pat Cummins hailed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the Rajasthan Royals teenager smashed 103 off 37 balls in Jaipur. The praise reflected how the 15-year-old has taken on elite fast bowlers without hesitation this season.
Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to leave a lasting impression on IPL 2026, with his fearless strokeplay earning admiration from across camps. The latest to join that list is Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, who was left amazed after witnessing the carnage in Jaipur.
It is now safe to say Cummins is a fan of the 15-year-old from Bihar after seeing him up close. Speaking at the post-match press conference, the SRH skipper did not hold back in his praise for the young batter.
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“I think he’s my new favourite player. He hits the ball so hard, it’s great to watch. It’s good fun,” Cummins said.
“You have to be right on the money as a bowler. If you are not, it’s going a long way. It’s impressive. He has had a great start to his career, and yeah, I like the way he plays. Takes the game on,” he added.
Sooryavanshi smashed a breathtaking 103 off just 37 balls at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, bringing up his century in just 36 deliveries — the second-fastest by an Indian in IPL history, behind Abhishek Sharma. His knock, which included 12 sixes, powered Rajasthan Royals to 228, although it came in a losing cause as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased it down. The youngster briefly went atop the Orange Cap standings before being overtaken by Abhishek, with the two now separated by just 23 runs after eight matches.
HOW SOORYAVANSHI VS CUMMINS WENT
There was no settling-in period when Sooryavanshi faced Cummins. The teenager smashed a six off the very first ball he faced from the Australian, underlining his fearless approach.
In total, Sooryavanshi scored eight runs off the four balls he faced from Cummins, including that early maximum and two singles — a short but striking contest that reflected the youngster’s aggressive mindset.
It has been a consistent theme this season. Sooryavanshi has shown little regard for reputation, having already taken on elite quicks like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood earlier in the tournament, reinforcing his ability to attack high-quality pace without hesitation.
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