Teenage cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came out with one of the most electrifying performances of IPL 2026 during the eliminator on Wednesday at PCA New Cricket Stadium, earning admiration from former South Africa captain and IPL icon AB de Villiers after Rajasthan Royals’ emphatic 47-run win. At just 15 years old, Sooryavanshi unleashed a breathtaking assault, hammering 97 runs from 29 deliveries in a fearless display of power-hitting. de Villiers asserted that it was Sooryavanshi’s tactical awareness that impressed him the most. According to de Villiers, it is extremely rare for a player so young to remain calm and in control during a high-pressure knockout game. 

"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," AB de Villiers said on JioStar.

De Villiers said that Vaibhav looked completely unfazed despite the magnitude of the occasion. Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, has piled up 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a strike rate of 242.85. He has also hit a century and four fifties.

"That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young. 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," he said.

Vaibhav gave the side a sizzling start, dismantling Hyderabad’s plans as Rajasthan Royals raced to 125 runs within the first eight overs

"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 said.