Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to retire burnt out by 21? English greats make bold prediction
Former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Alastair Cook and David Lloyd were left stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 campaign, with the former England stars joking on the Stick to Cricket podcast that the 15-year-old could be "burnt out by 21" and rich enough to retire early given the astonishing pace of his rise.
Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to leave the cricketing world stunned, but the hype around the youngster has now taken a bizarre turn, with former England star joking that he could be “burnt out” and even retired by the age of 21 if his meteoric rise continues at the current pace.
Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary IPL 2026 campaign has triggered wild reactions from fans and pundits alike. From exaggerated AI comparisons to conspiracy theories about “chips in the bat”, the 15-year-old’s explosive batting has become one of the biggest talking points of the season.
During a recent episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Alastair Cook and David Lloyd discussed Sooryavanshi’s staggering rise in the IPL.
Vaughan kicked off the conversation by putting the teenager’s numbers into perspective.
“So, Chris Gayle’s got the fastest IPL hundred — off 30 balls. This kid has already hit a 100 off 35 balls. The most sixes by any Indian batter in a single edition is 42 by Abhishek Sharma in 2024. This kid is on 37 now,” Vaughan said.
Cook was then asked whether Sooryavanshi is currently the best six-hitter in world cricket, and the former England captain did not hesitate.
“Absolutely yes. But what did he go for? What did they sign him for as a 14-year-old? I thought he signed a two-year deal. How much is he going to go for next year at the auction? What if he says he wants to go back to the auction?” Cook remarked.
Vaughan, who has repeatedly backed Sooryavanshi for an early India call-up, once again pushed for the youngster’s inclusion in India’s upcoming tour of Ireland and England later this year. However, he dismissed Cook’s suggestion that the Rajasthan Royals would risk letting him enter the auction pool again.
“Don’t think they will throw him back in [the auction]. But rest assured, he will come on that Ireland tour for sure. He should be in that team,” Vaughan added.
The conversation then took a humorous turn when Tufnell joked that Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise could lead to burnout before he even reaches his prime years.
“He could be burnt out by 21,” Tufnell quipped, prompting laughter on the panel before Vaughan added: “He’ll have enough cash by then. Might retire.”
While the remarks were clearly made in jest, they also underline the astonishing scale of Sooryavanshi’s emergence. At just 15, the Rajasthan Royals youngster has already become one of the IPL’s most feared hitters, forcing former cricketers to speak about him in almost mythical terms.
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