RR vs GT IPL 2026: R Ashwin lavished praise on Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating he expects the emerging talent to play for India in all formats. Ashwin shared these remarks on JioHotstar after the Rajasthan franchise fell by 77 runs to the Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 match on Saturday.
Despite the Yashasvi Jaiswal-led team's defeat, Vaibhav once again captured attention with his powerful strokeplay as an opener.
He has emerged as one of the season's standout performers, consistently excelling for RR at just 15. In IPL 2026, he has compiled 440 runs in 11 matches, averaging 40.00 with a remarkable strike rate of 236.56. He is also RR's leading run-scorer. He set his personal best of 103 off 37 balls in the IPL 2026 match against Ishan Kishan's team—also the second-fastest century by an Indian batter.
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He has shattered records this season, becoming the tournament's fastest player to score 400 runs in a single season, reaching the milestone in just 167 balls. He's also set a new benchmark for most sixes in a power play, smashing 32.
He is the youngest and fastest batter to hit 100 sixes in T20S, accomplishing the feat in just 514 balls. Against Shubman Gill's team, he again attacked, making a determined 36 off 16 balls, including a six on his first delivery.
R Ashwin called Sooryavanshi a 'box office player' and applauded his confidence and the excitement he generates every time he bats.
Ashwin commented, "He is leaving no stone unturned, putting every ounce of force he can into the ball. The way he played, even in the U-19 World Cup final, brings everything together—he looks like a box-office player. There are very few windows in your cricketing career where you can absolutely enjoy your cricket, and he is only 15 years old. I think we should just let him be. There is no point asking him to do things he shouldn't be doing at this stage of his career," Ashwin said on Jiostar.
Ashwin stressed that Sooryavanshi's aggressive mindset equips him to thrive in all formats for his country.
Ashwin concluded, "He is taking every bowler down. I wouldn't mind watching him in a Test match or in all three formats of the game. Get him onto the cricket ground, get people coming around, because he is going to entertain you."