Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The New Sachin Tendulkar? Kiran More Praises RR Prodigy
The Rise of a New Cricket Prodigy
In the high-pressure world of the Indian Premier League, few players manage to capture the imagination of the public as quickly as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old opener from Bihar, currently representing the Rajasthan Royals, has become the talk of the cricketing fraternity. His performances in the IPL 2026 season have been nothing short of extraordinary, prompting veteran experts to draw parallels with none other than the ‘God of Cricket’ himself, Sachin Tendulkar.
Kiran More’s High Praise
The comparison comes from an authoritative voice in Indian cricket: Kiran More. As the former chief selector who famously identified MS Dhoni for the national ODI squad in 2004, More has a proven track record of spotting raw talent before it hits the mainstream. Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s potential, More drew a direct link to his experience watching a 16-year-old Tendulkar make his debut against Pakistan in 1989.
“When I first saw Sachin Tendulkar, who came in the Indian team for the first time and batted against a great bowler, I knew right away that he was something special,” More stated. “The same is with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi; he is special. It is a good thing that we have such a player. He is going to bring great glory to the country. Let him play the way he does. He has been made and well prepared by God for this sport.”
A Dominant IPL 2026 Campaign
Sooryavanshi’s statistics justify the excitement surrounding his name. Having built upon a promising debut in the previous season, he has taken his game to another level in 2026. Scoring 579 runs in 13 matches with a blistering strike rate of 236.32, the teenager has become a nightmare for opposing bowling attacks. His tournament haul includes one century—a brilliant 103—and three fifties.
Beyond the raw numbers, it is the nature of his aggression that stands out. With 53 sixes already to his name, he currently holds the record for the most maximums by an Indian in a single IPL season and is rapidly closing in on Chris Gayle’s legendary record of 59. As the youngest player in history to score more than one century in the IPL, his ability to dominate the crease at such a tender age remains unprecedented.
The Path to the National Team
The consistency shown by Sooryavanshi has not gone unnoticed by the national selectors. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently acknowledged the youngster’s talent, including him in the India A side for their tri-series in Sri Lanka. While the selectors remain focused on established hierarchies, the sheer weight of his domestic performance is making it difficult to ignore his claim for higher honors.
His List-A statistics further reinforce his adaptability. In eight innings, he has accumulated 333 runs at an average of 44.12 and a strike rate of 164.95. Furthermore, as India’s top run-scorer in U19 ODIs—boasting 1412 runs in 25 innings at an average of 56.48—Sooryavanshi has proven he has the technical foundation to succeed across formats. With four tons and seven half-centuries in the U19 setup, the roadmap for his transition to international cricket is already being written.
Looking Ahead
While the comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar carry immense weight and expectation, Sooryavanshi remains focused on his own craft. The cricket world will be watching closely to see how he manages the transition from a breakout IPL star to a mainstay in professional cricket. For now, the combination of his fearless approach, his statistical dominance, and the endorsement of seasoned veterans like Kiran More suggests that Indian cricket has unearthed a generational talent capable of carrying the legacy forward.
