Young star sets big goals for IPL 2026
India’s rising cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has revealed that his main focus for the Indian Premier League 2026 season is to help Rajasthan Royals win the title.
Speaking during the BCCI Naman Awards in New Delhi on Sunday, the teenage opener said contributing to team victories remains his biggest priority.
“The goal this IPL season is to win the trophy for the team. If I perform well, it will help the entire team,” Sooryavanshi said.
The 14-year-old left-handed batter recently rose to prominence after guiding India Under‑19 cricket team to victory in the ICC Under‑19 Cricket World Cup.
Royals scouting paid off
Sooryavanshi also revealed that the Rajasthan Royals scouting team had been tracking his performances in domestic and Under-19 cricket long before he officially joined the franchise in November 2024.
He said the trial with the Royals convinced him that the franchise would be the right environment for his development.
“Their scouting team had been following me for a long time. My trial with them went very well, and I’m happy to be with Rajasthan Royals,” he said.
The youngster added that playing for the franchise has significantly improved his game and confidence.
Target: Chris Gayle’s legendary IPL record
Beyond winning the title, Sooryavanshi has set his sights on one of the toughest records in T20 cricket — the highest individual score in IPL history.
That record belongs to Chris Gayle, who smashed 175 runs* for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India during the 2013 Indian Premier League.
Gayle’s iconic innings came off just 66 balls, including 17 sixes, and also featured the fastest T20 century, reached in only 30 balls.
When asked at the awards ceremony which record he would most like to break — six sixes in an over, the fastest IPL hundred, or Gayle’s 175 — Sooryavanshi chose the latter without hesitation.
“Breaking that 175 record,” he replied.
Records already under his name
Despite his young age, Sooryavanshi has already etched his name into cricket history.
- Fastest IPL century by an Indian (35 balls)
- Youngest player to score a century in IPL and T20 cricket
- Leading run-scorer for India in the U19 World Cup with 439 runs
In the tournament final against England Under‑19 cricket team, he delivered a match-winning 175 off 80 balls, powering India to the title.
Looking ahead to IPL 2026
With the IPL 2026 season approaching, expectations around the teenage prodigy are already sky-high. If Sooryavanshi continues his explosive form, he could not only push the Rajasthan Royals toward another championship but also challenge one of the most famous records in T20 history.
Who is Vaibhav Suryavanshi?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (born c. 2011-2012) is a 14-year-old Indian cricket prodigy who shot to prominence in early 2026 by smashing a 35-ball century and a 52-ball 143 in the IPL. As one of the youngest players in IPL history, he has broken records with his aggressive batting style, drawing comparisons to Rishabh Pant.