Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: How Akshay Karanje, RR’s talent spotter, unearthed Bihar’s boy wonder
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is electrifying the IPL with his audacious batting, fearlessly taking on top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. Rajasthan Royals' scouting efforts, spearheaded by Akshay Karanje and endorsed by Kumar Sangakkara, identified this prodigious talent, shifting the franchise's focus towards nurturing young stars for consistent performance and national benefit.
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, is the toast of the nation. It's still early days in the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League but the left-hander has everyone talking again. If last season was about his age and fearlessness, this season his audacity in taking on the best in the business is what has made him box office.
His ability to take down Jasprit Bumrah, his approach against Trent Boult and his refusal to be overawed by the opposition - which featured the circuit's biggest names - stood out when he smoked a 14-ball 39, including five sixes (two off Bumrah), against the Mumbai Indians. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Sooryavanshi vs Bumrah was highly anticipated, and the boy wonder walked away with the first round. The smile on Bumrah's face after being hit for a six off the first ball said it all. It summed up the moment and the occasion.
It was as if Bumrah muttered to himself, "This kid can bat," when he returned to the mark to bowl the next delivery. To ensure the first wasn't a fluke, the 15-year-old sent another delivery into the stands, setting social media timelines on fire. The youngster has been on song in the last few months, carrying his rich vein of form and audacious strokeplay from the U-19 World Cup into the IPL.