Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi labelled Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the “best buy” in IPL history after the Rajasthan Royals youngster smashed 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi has showered praise on Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the teenager’s extraordinary performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at New Chandigarh.
The 15-year-old opener produced one of the most destructive knocks seen in IPL playoff history, hammering 97 runs from just 29 deliveries to help Rajasthan Royals post a commanding total before sealing a dominant victory over SRH.
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Reacting to the innings on social media platform X, Lalit Modi described the young batter as the greatest value signing in IPL history.
“Best buy of any player in history @Vaibhavsooryava by @rajasthanroyals,” Lalit Modi tweeted.
Rajasthan Royals’ Gamble On Teenager Turns Into Gold
Rajasthan Royals had secured Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for Rs 1.10 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction after battling Delhi Capitals for his signature. At that stage, the franchise’s decision to invest in a 13-year-old was largely viewed as a long-term project for the future.
However, the Bihar batter immediately grabbed attention during his debut season after smashing Shardul Thakur for a six off the very first ball he faced in IPL cricket.
Vaibhav went on to score 252 runs in seven matches during IPL 2025 while maintaining a strike rate of more than 200. He also scripted history by registering the fastest IPL century by an Indian batter after reaching his hundred in just 35 deliveries against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur on April 28, 2025.
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Vaibhav Dominating IPL 2026 With Record-Breaking Numbers
The youngster has elevated his game further in IPL 2026 and currently leads the Orange Cap standings with 680 runs from 15 matches. His remarkable strike rate of over 230 has made him the most feared batter of the season.
Vaibhav has also shattered global T20 records with 65 sixes this season — the highest tally ever recorded by a batter in a single T20 tournament.
Apart from narrowly missing out on centuries twice after getting dismissed in the 90s, the Rajasthan Royals opener also smashed a 36-ball hundred against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season on April 25.
The teenager now holds multiple records, including the most sixes in an IPL innings by an Indian batter after smashing 12 sixes twice. He is also the only teenager in T20 history to score more than 600 runs in a single tournament, underlining his sensational rise in world cricket.
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