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Vaibhav Suryavanshi and RCB stars - (Source: AFP)
IPL 2026 is just five days away, and the next three months will be the best opportunity for youngsters to stamp their authority and get selectors’ attention. 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi will have a lot of eyeballs on him after the southpaw took the league by storm in 2025.
For the uninitiated, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made his Rajasthan Royals debut in IPL 2025, where he slammed a 35-ball century, the second-fastest in IPL history. He came in as an injury replacement for Sanju Samson and left his mark. Now with Samson’s exit, Suryavanshi is set to start all 14 games for the inaugural winners.
AB De Villiers High On Praise For Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Ahead of the new season, RCB legend AB de Villiers has heaped massive praise on the youngster, highlighting his performance throughout the entire season. Notably, the ex-RCB star sat for a conversation with Jitesh Sharma, where they were all praised Suryavanshi.
“He’s a great player. I watched him in the Under-19s. It’s not always easy when you get the taste of IPL and big cricket, and still show the same kind of standard. I was very impressed with the way he played in that World Cup. Very professional. He’s very mature for his age,” said AB de Villiers
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“I’m talking about the way he played. He still kept to his game plan. He played the same way he played the IPL. Didn’t try to be something else. He wasn’t arrogant against the bowlers. But he will get professional,” he added.
Jitesh Sharma Disagrees With AB de Villiers
In reply, Jitesh Sharma too spoke on the same lines and praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but disagreed with the professionalism part. Notably, Jitesh captain Suryavanshi, when the two featured for India A in the Emerging Asia Cup 2025.ws
“Right now, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. I feel he can dominate world cricket. He has gear No. 6 and a very good set of skills,” said Jitesh when asked to name one youngster he would invest a million dollars in.
“He’s not professional. I can tell you that. Everyone is trying to get him to be professional, but I don’t think he will ever get professional. He may be on the field, but off the field, he won’t. I’m trying my best. I ask him not to have ice cream at night,” he added.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fitness a Concern
Jitesh isn’t entirely wrong because Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been criticised for his off-field routine. Notably, he has a bad diet, which was also revealed by his father post IPL 2025.
In an interview Dainik Jagran,"Now he takes a very balanced diet. He goes to the gym. he had gained a lot of weight. He has to reduce it," he said.
Following the season, Suryavanshi did work on himself and shed a few kilos, which actually helped him perform for India A. His most memorable performance came in the Under-19 World Cup final, where he scored 175 (80) in the final and helped India A clinch the title.
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