Reminds of young Shahid Afridi: Ex-Pak player faces backlash over Sooryavanshi claim
IPL 2026: Mohammad Yousaf compared Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to a young Shahid Afridi after the teenager's brutal IPL knock. The praise drew a sharp backlash, showing how quickly hype around a prodigy turns into argument.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 97 off 29 balls against SRH. Courtesy: Reuters
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousaf has sparked a major backlash after comparing teenage Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to a young Shahid Afridi following the youngster’s explosive IPL 2026 season. The comments came after Sooryavanshi’s blistering knock of 97 off 29 balls for Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 27, which helped his side reach Qualifier 2.
The debate has since intensified on social media, with fans divided over the comparison between a rising teenage prodigy and one of Pakistan’s most iconic power-hitters.
Yousaf took to X to praise the 15-year-old’s fearless approach, writing: “15-year-old cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reminds me of Shahid Afridi – young, fearless, explosive, full of energy. The future is here!”
However, the reaction online was far from unanimous, with a section of fans strongly criticising the former Pakistan batter for drawing parallels between the two.
“Sooryavanshi is actually 15, unlike that age-fraud,” one user posted in response.
Another wrote: “I hope Sooryavanshi does not end up tampering the pitch and ball. Also, it will be so bad to see him get out pinch hitting every game.”
The controversy highlights how comparisons involving cross-border cricket icons often trigger heated debates, especially when young talents are involved and expectations are already sky-high.
Sooryavanshi’s rising impact in IPL
Sooryavanshi’s performance has been one of the standout stories of the IPL season, with the teenager already rewriting record books. His 97-run blitz against SRH not only powered Rajasthan Royals into Qualifier 2 but also saw him surpass Chris Gayle for the most sixes in a single IPL season, reaching a staggering 65 maximums.
The youngster has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in world cricket and is now on the verge of a potential maiden India call-up. He has already been named in India A’s 50-over Tri-series squad in Sri Lanka scheduled for June 2026.
At just 15, Sooryavanshi has already established himself as one of the most explosive young batters in the IPL, boasting a strike rate of around 240 this season.
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi, who remains one of Pakistan’s most famous white-ball hitters, still holds iconic status for his record-breaking 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in 1996, when he was just 16-years-old.
Sooryavanshi will next be in action on Friday, May 29 against Gujarat Titans in Dharamshala, with Rajasthan Royals aiming to secure a place in the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31.
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