Washington Sundar on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. [Source - AFP]Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a cricketing phenomenon, with the world talking about him since he burst onto the scene more than a year ago. At just 15, the youngster has taken cricket by storm with his fearless batting.But what makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi so special? Ahead of India’s historic T20I clash against Japan, his teammate Washington Sundar has opened up on the youngster’s biggest strengths and explained what makes him stand out from other players.Washington Sundar Explains What Makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi SpecialAll eyes in Japan are on the much-awaited clash between India and Japan on Tuesday, September 22nd, with fans eager to watch the wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ahead of the game, Washington Sundar revealed what makes the youngster special.Sundar faced several questions during Monday’s press conference, but his comments on Sooryavanshi stood out. He highlighted the teenager’s understanding of his own game and his ability to read different situations.“He is just extremely skillful. And obviously, he’s got a great head as well. He understands his own game and also understands how to win battles against different oppositions and different conditions as well. He is extremely smart. And being really smart, along with the kind of skill sets that he’s got, is obviously going to be a dangerous combo,” Sundar said on Monday.Also Read: Japan Captain Fires Blunt Warning To Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Before Historic ClashVaibhav Sooryavanshi's Understanding of the Game Makes Him SpecialFor the world, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a 15-year-old wonderkid doing things with the bat beyond imagination. But for his teammates, his ability is not only about talent, but it is also about cricketing intelligence.Washington Sundar believes Sooryavanshi understands his own game remarkably well for his age. He can assess different opponents, understand conditions and work out how to approach each challenge, making him a smart young cricketer.That understanding, combined with his natural batting skills, is what makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi special. Sundar feels this combination gives the teenager another edge, as he can use his talent with a clear idea of how to win battles.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise Justifies Washington Sundar's Special PraiseVaibhav Sooryavanshi’s numbers and performances so far give weight to Washington Sundar’s assessment. From his explosive IPL displays to his India debut, the left-handed opener has also shown maturity in tough phases, staying composed and finding ways to contribute.His IPL 2026 season took his rise to another level, before he made his India debut and impressed on the international stage. These performances show why Sundar sees more than just raw talent in the youngster.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi T20I and IPL 2026 Stats StatT20IIPL 2026MatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table193SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table776SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike-RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table189.21SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table237.30SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table100sSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table0SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table50sSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table5SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table Now, with the Asian Games 2026 ahead, Sooryavanshi has another opportunity to show what makes him special. His journey so far suggests that his batting ability is backed by the game awareness Washington Sundar highlighted.Also Read: Japan Predicted Playing XI vs India: One-Off T20I, India Tour Of Japan 2026
