Vaibhav Set for Great Things, Says Brett Lee
Following a fantastic 2026 season that drew international attention, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of cricket’s most promising young stars.
The 15-year-old enjoyed a breakout IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals, amassing 776 runs with a strike rate of 237.31 in 16 games. He broke the record for the most sixes struck in a single IPL season and finished as the tournament’s leading run scorer with 103 off 37 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had earlier displayed his extraordinary prowess in the Under-19 World Cup final against England, making 175 runs off 80 balls, including 15 fours and 15 sixes.
After winning Player of the Tournament, he was named to the T20I team for a tour of Ireland and England in the summer of 2026, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for India’s youngest men’s international debut. Brett Lee, a former Australian fast bowler, recently praised the teenager’s skills, saying, “He is incredible.”
Everyone outside of India asks if he’s fifteen. Lee told Ranveer Allahbadia on the BeerBiceps podcast that he doesn’t care if he’s 15 or not. If he’s 15, great; if he’s 17, 18, who cares. This youngster can play cricket. He has been an excellent find for India, and he will go on to achieve much greater success,” he continued.
Lee was particularly impressed with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearlessness in the face of powerful speed bowling throughout the IPL campaign.
The Australian veteran praised the teenager’s confidence and skill in facing foreign bowlers, stating that he had already made an impact in the IPL in a short period. He was facing Australian bowlers when he scored 97. “They were bowling gas, and he was hooking them off his nose,” Lee explained.
Juggling youth and talent.
The veteran fast bowler commended Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s mechanical ability and power hitting, but warned against putting too much pressure on the young player. Lee underlined the importance of setting realistic expectations and allowing the young cricketer to develop naturally.
“He is playing proper cricketing shots and has power that he finds from somewhere.” It won’t be his form or hitting; it will just be his mind. He still needs to be a kid. “Let him be a kid, and don’t put too much pressure on him,” the Australian said.
Lee, who bowled at some of the fastest speeds in cricket history, was excited about the prospect of testing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with short-pitched deliveries. He indicated why he would appreciate such a contest by referring to his past as a quick bowler.
“If someone was a good hooker or ball puller, I used to enjoy it because it turned into a competition. So, of course, I would enter the boardroom, go upstairs, and have a look.
I’ll add one to his badge and see what he does with it. “He might hook me for six, but that won’t stop me from giving him another one,” the 49-year-old said.
