London: Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to dominate discussions in the cricketing world following his explosive performances in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), with former England players no
w reacting in disbelief to the youngster’s extraordinary rise.
The latest reactions came during an episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, where former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Alastair Cook and David Lloyd discussed the remarkable impact made by the 15-year-old batter during the ongoing IPL season.
In a humorous exchange, Tufnell joked that Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise and relentless performances could lead to burnout at a very young age.
“He could be burnt out by 21,” Tufnell quipped, drawing laughter from the panel before Vaughan added jokingly, “He’ll have enough cash by then. Might retire.”
Teenager’s IPL performances trigger massive hype
Sooryavanshi’s sensational batting displays for Rajasthan Royals have made him one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026.
The young batter’s aggressive strokeplay and six-hitting ability have generated enormous attention from fans, commentators, and former cricketers across the cricketing world.
Social media discussions surrounding the teenager have become increasingly exaggerated, ranging from artificial intelligence-generated comparisons with legendary players to bizarre conspiracy theories joking about “chips in the bat” due to his extraordinary shot-making.
Despite the humorous nature of many reactions, cricket analysts believe the excitement reflects the scale of his performances at such a young age.
Vaughan compares youngster with IPL records
During the podcast discussion, Vaughan highlighted the scale of Sooryavanshi’s achievements by comparing his numbers with established IPL records.
“So, Chris Gayle’s got the fastest IPL hundred — off 30 balls. This kid has already hit a 100 off 35 balls,” Vaughan said.
He also pointed out that the highest number of sixes hit by an Indian batter in a single IPL season remains 42 by Abhishek Sharma in 2024.
“This kid is on 37 now,” Vaughan added, underlining the teenager’s extraordinary consistency and power-hitting ability.
The comments highlighted how quickly Sooryavanshi has entered discussions involving some of the league’s biggest batting records.
Alastair Cook praises six-hitting ability
Former England captain Alastair Cook was asked during the discussion whether Sooryavanshi was currently the best six-hitter in world cricket.
Cook responded without hesitation: “Absolutely yes.”
He also expressed amazement at the teenager’s market value and future prospects in the IPL auction system.
“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?” Cook remarked.
Cook further speculated humorously about the possibility of the youngster choosing to re-enter the IPL auction in future seasons.
Vaughan backs India selection for overseas tour
Michael Vaughan once again backed Sooryavanshi for an early call-up to the Indian national team, particularly for India’s upcoming tour of Ireland and England later this year.
According to Vaughan, the teenager has already demonstrated enough talent to justify inclusion in India’s squad.
“Rest assured, he will come on that Ireland tour for sure. He should be in that team,” Vaughan said.
However, Vaughan dismissed suggestions that Rajasthan Royals would risk allowing the youngster to return to the auction pool after his breakthrough season.
Cricket world watches emergence of young star
At just 15 years of age, Sooryavanshi has already become one of the most talked-about players in world cricket.
Experts believe his fearless batting style and ability to dominate experienced bowlers have transformed him into a rare sporting phenomenon.
While the comments made by the former England players were largely humorous, they also reflected the extraordinary attention and expectations now surrounding the teenager’s career.
Cricket observers note that managing workload, media attention, and long-term development will become increasingly important as Sooryavanshi continues his rapid rise in professional cricket.
For now, the Rajasthan Royals youngster remains one of the IPL’s biggest attractions and a player widely viewed as a future star of Indian cricket.