De Villiers reacts to Sooryavanshi's exploits [Source: AFP]Normally, at 15, a kid in India is going to school and he comes back home dreaming of playing for India and in the IPL. However, teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already fulfilled one wish, and that is not only to take part in the IPL, but to take the league by storm.Many expected the 15-year-old to be a one-season wonder as bowlers were expected to find a weak link in his armour, but 15 IPL 2026 games later, and no one has been able to find the weak spot as Sooryavanshi continues to dazzle with his stroke-making.His recent carnage was against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator, where he single-handedly eliminated the Orange Army from the IPL.One-man army Sooryavanshi eliminates SRHIn the all-important knockout fixture between the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Royals posted a mammoth 243/8, and interestingly, 97 of those were scored by the prodigal son of the Royals, Sooryavanshi.In a breathtaking assault, Sooryavanshi took down the Pat Cummins-led bowling attack with utmost ease, and smashed 97 off 29 balls, with a strike rate of 334. He broke several records in the game and gave a nightmare to SRH bowlers.Courtesy of him, the Royals posted a match-winning total as the side won the game by 47 runs, thus, reaching Qualifier 2 to set up a date with the Gujarat Titans.AB de Villiers reacts to Sooryavanshi's IPL exploitsIn the IPL 2026 match against SRH, Sooryavanshi became the player with the most sixes hit in an IPL season, and after his exploits, former South African and RCB great AB de Villiers lavished praise on the RR opener, comparing his training methods to those of Aussie legend Matthew Hayden."What’s most impressive about Vaibhav Suryavanshi 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," de Villiers said on JioStar.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 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".Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Leaves Behind MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli In Popularity RaceHow Sooryavanshi and Hayden are similarHayden, the current Gujarat Titans batting coach, was the most destructive batter of his playing days, similar to what Sooryavanshi is today. Both players have a similar game plan, as they love to take down the bowlers, and they never allow the opponent to settle in.In Hayden’s playing era, bowlers used to fear him, as the Aussie player had the ability to snatch away the game in the blink of an eye. Similarly, Sooryavanshi, time and again, has instilled a fear factor as the IPL bowlers have no idea where to bowl to him.Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 journey at a glanceThe Rajasthan Royals have reached the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 by beating the Sunrisers, and the credit should be given to Sooryavanshi, who has been RR’s best player by a country mile. While others have struggled to perform consistently, the 15-year-old kid has taken his game to the next level, and the stats reveal the story.The left-handed opener has played in 15 IPL 2026 games, and the statistics are staggering, as he has slammed 680 runs, with an astonishing strike rate of 242.86. Moreover, the southpaw has registered four fifties and a solitary century in IPL 2026.The batter has already shattered multiple IPL records in 2026, and he is eager to write a new chapter in Qualifier 2 against the Titans.Also Read: Pat Cummins’ Cost Per Wicket For SRH In IPL 2026
