IPL 2026: Ex-India cricketer Robin Uthappa opined that teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was riding his luck and may not match last year's consistency. He said that as Sooryavanshi adjusts to high expectations, he will realize his form has faded, which will help him grow this season.
Following his record-breaking first season with the Rajasthan Royals at just 14 years old—scoring 252 runs at a strong strike rate of 206.55, highlighted by a century off 35 balls against one of Gujarat Titans' best bowlers—Sooryavanshi continued to impress by helping India win the U-19 World Cup and representing Bihar in several domestic tournaments.
“I've followed Vaibhav's games over the past year. He is phenomenal, but seems to be riding his luck. As the competition toughens and rivals study him, the novelty fades. That's fine—this season will educate him and help him in the long term. He will still score, but likely not as much as last year," Uthappa said on Star Sports.
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However, during the discussion, one of his fellow former Indian teammates offered a contrasting perspective.
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“Even after the IPL, he continues to perform, which gives me confidence. If his form were inconsistent, I’d be worried. I believe he'll score another fast half-century or possibly a century," Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.