AB de Villiers hailed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s “remarkable” composure and tactical awareness after the teenager’s stunning 97 off 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator.
Former South Africa batter and IPL legend AB de Villiers showered praise on Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the teenager’s sensational innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator.
The 15-year-old opener delivered one of the most destructive knocks in IPL playoff history, smashing 97 runs off just 29 balls as Rajasthan Royals posted a massive total before sealing a convincing 47-run victory to progress into Qualifier 2.
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De Villiers admitted that beyond the powerful hitting, it was Sooryavanshi’s calmness and tactical awareness in a high-pressure knockout contest that impressed him the most.
“What stood out most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad kept trying different plans, constantly changing the field and mixing their lengths to disrupt his rhythm, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young,” de Villiers told JioStar.
SRH Left Helpless Against Sooryavanshi’s Brutal Assault
Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the Eliminator with confidence after defeating Rajasthan Royals twice during the league phase. However, Sooryavanshi completely dismantled their bowling plans during a breathtaking powerplay assault.
Even SRH skipper Pat Cummins struggled to contain the teenager despite employing defensive fields and yorker-heavy tactics. Rajasthan Royals raced to 125 inside just eight overs as Sooryavanshi attacked every bowler fearlessly.
De Villiers explained how the youngster appeared mentally prepared for every tactical move Hyderabad attempted during the innings.
“Whether they bowled short or tried to surprise him with fuller deliveries, he seemed prepared for every plan and was in control against all of them. Scoring 97 off just 29 balls in an Eliminator, while dominating all parts of the ground, was an extraordinary display of fearless batting and showed why he is already being spoken about alongside some of the most explosive players the IPL has seen,” he added.
De Villiers Compares RR Youngster To Matthew Hayden
The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru superstar also highlighted Sooryavanshi’s preparation methods and mental routines, calling them highly unusual for someone only 15 years old.
“What’s most impressive about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the clarity he already has around his preparation and routines at just 15 years of age. Hearing him talk about visualising match-ups, studying bowlers, and mentally preparing before games shows a level of maturity that is very rare at that age,” the RCB Hall of Famer said.
De Villiers even compared the youngster’s approach to legendary Australian opener Matthew Hayden, who was famous for his visualization routines before batting.
“It actually reminded me a little of Matthew Hayden, who used to spend time visualising on the pitch before batting. Over the course of his career, many of those routines will evolve, but the important thing is that Vaibhav is already building his own habits and processes instead of trying to copy others,” the Proteas great stated.
The South African great concluded by saying individuality and self-awareness could become the biggest strengths in shaping Sooryavanshi’s future career.
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“The best players in the world eventually discover what works authentically for them, and Vaibhav already seems to have that understanding very early in his journey,” he concluded.
Rajasthan Royals will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday in New Chandigarh, with Sooryavanshi once again expected to play a key role.
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