‘They might die’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi terrifies bowlers, called ‘Baby Hulk’
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, now 15, is making waves as a destructive hitter in Indian cricket and the IPL. His rapid rise includes an India A debut and a strong bond with captain Jitesh Sharma, who highlights his natural power and the fear he instills in bowlers. Sooryavanshi is poised for a key role with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 today, is already being counted among the most destructive hitters in Indian cricket and the Indian Premier League. His stunning 35-ball century in last season’s tournament was just the beginning, as he has continued to produce big runs and impactful innings across levels over the past year. Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise saw him make his India A debut towards the end of 2025, featuring in the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup under the leadership of Jitesh Sharma.
The tournament provided him early exposure to a senior dressing room, allowing him to interact with players on the fringes of the national side and further underlining his immense potential. Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Jitesh shared insights into the youngster’s journey and the bond they developed, both during their India A stint and from Sooryavanshi’s time at the Rajasthan Royals academy near Nagpur. “Today he told me, bhaiya if you say something about me then watch out,” joked Jitesh.
“Very cute boy. He used to come to Talegaon for practice, where RR’s academy is. That’s where I got to know him, then we went to play in Qatar, where I was captain, so that’s where we made our bond.
” When asked about the source of Sooryavanshi’s remarkable hitting power, Jitesh pointed to his natural strength, particularly his wrists. “It’s all natural power, he’s very strong. His wrists are bigger than my wrists – I gave him my watch to wear and it was tight for him,” he said, highlighting the physical attributes behind the youngster’s explosive batting.