'Smacks Australia's best fast bowlers': Pathan in awe of Sooryavanshi’s bold approach
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is dominating IPL 2026, leading the Orange Cap race with 400 runs. His fearless approach against top international bowlers like Hazlewood and Cummins, including hitting boundaries from the first ball, signals a new era of confidence in Indian cricket, as noted by Irfan Pathan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken IPL 2026 by storm, playing fearless cricket against some of the world’s best bowlers and currently leading the Orange Cap race with 400 runs. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the teenager’s audacious approach signals an exciting shift in Indian cricket, where young players are no longer intimidated by big names or reputations. Australian pacers have long been known for their dominance, built on pace, precision, and relentless hard lengths.
But Sooryavanshi has approached them with remarkable confidence, taking on the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins right from the outset. From hitting a first-ball six off Jasprit Bumrah, to taking on Trent Boult, and the same audacity against Cummins and then dismantling Hazlewood with a sequence of 4, 4, 4, 6 in an over, Sooryavanshi has shown no hesitation in attacking some of the finest bowlers of the modern era. Pathan’s comments come amid a wave of emerging talent making an immediate impact at the highest level, reflecting a mindset where age and experience are no longer barriers.
“It's an exciting time for Indian cricket. The way they play fearless cricket, and you know, they don't worry about anything. They don't worry about getting out.
They don't worry about, you know, who's bowling in front of them. A 15-year-old boy (Sooryavanshi) goes and smacks one of Australia's best fast bowlers. So, there is no better side, you know, in cricket at the moment, especially from the Indian side,” Pathan told IANS on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch event.