Mullanpur: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again lit up the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a breathtaking powerplay display for Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings, drawing widespread comparisons with MS Dhoni.
Although the young batter fell short of a half-century, his explosive 43 off just 16 balls left fans and experts in awe — especially due to his use of the iconic “helicopter shot”.
Helicopter shots steal the spotlight
Sooryavanshi smashed five sixes and three boundaries during his blistering knock. Notably, three of those sixes came via the helicopter shot — a stroke made famous by Dhoni.
One of the shots came off Arshdeep Singh, while the other two were struck against Lockie Ferguson. The similarity in execution immediately triggered reactions online, with fans remarking, “We have seen this before.”
Teenage sensation continues to shine
At just 15, Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the biggest revelations of IPL 2026. His fearless approach against high pace has stood out, as he has taken on elite bowlers with remarkable confidence.
He has already faced and dominated top names like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood this season, showcasing maturity far beyond his years.
Shikhar Dhawan praises rising star
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan lauded the youngster’s performances, expressing confidence in his future.
Dhawan said he was “extremely impressed” with Sooryavanshi’s ability to handle pace and predicted that his India debut may not be far away if he continues on this trajectory.
Fastest to 400 runs in IPL 2026
Sooryavanshi’s remarkable consistency has seen him become the fastest player to reach 400 runs in IPL 2026. He achieved the milestone in just 167 deliveries, scoring 400 runs off 168 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 238.09.
In doing so, he overtook Abhishek Sharma to become the leading run-scorer of the season.
Match context
Despite Sooryavanshi’s early blitz, the game remained competitive. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, posted a strong total, but Rajasthan Royals eventually chased it down.
The finishing touches were provided by Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey, who guided RR to victory in a high-scoring encounter.
Experience still key for World Cup
Dhawan also highlighted the importance of experience for India’s upcoming campaigns, backing veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the ODI World Cup next year.
Conclusion
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s dazzling strokeplay — particularly his Dhoni-like helicopter shots — has added a new dimension to IPL 2026. While comparisons with legends are still early, the youngster’s fearless batting and growing influence suggest Indian cricket may have found its next big superstar.