‘One of the best batters in the world’: Shubman Gill’s bold declaration on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Cricket News
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill has delivered perhaps the biggest endorsement yet of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary IPL 2026 season, describing the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter as “one of the best batters in the world” in the T20 format.Gill’s praise came on the eve of the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, less than 24 hours after the two players starred in a thrilling Qualifier 2 clash. While Gill’s magnificent 104 guided Gujarat to a seven-wicket victory and a place in the final, it was Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking 96 that once again captured attention.The teenager signed off from the tournament with 776 runs, including six scores of fifty or more, a strike rate of 237.30 and an astonishing 72 sixes. He also produced back-to-back playoff masterclasses, following a 29-ball 97 in the Eliminator with a 47-ball 96 against Gujarat.Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s remarkable campaign, Gill admitted he had rarely seen a batter dominate attacks in such a fashion.“The kind of season he’s had is remarkable. I’ve not seen anyone bat like the way he bats.”The Gujarat skipper then made a bold assessment of the teenager’s standing in the shortest format.“I think in this format probably, he’s, right now, one of the best batters in the world.”Gill believes Sooryavanshi’s success is driven by far more than his ability to clear the boundary ropes. According to him, the youngster’s unique biomechanics and exceptional bat speed set him apart from most players.“It’s not just hitting those boundaries, but his biomechanics and his hand speed no matter what opposition he plays against.”Sooryavanshi once again showcased those qualities in Qualifier 2. After Gujarat’s pace attack struck early and prevented him from getting off to a flying start, the teenager rebuilt the innings and kept Rajasthan in the contest with another fearless display.Gill said that ability to adapt and fight back under pressure stood out as much as the runs themselves.“Today he didn’t get off to a flyer, but still the way, how he managed to come back into the game kept putting us under pressure, so that just tells you about the mindset that he has.”The left-hander eventually fell for 96 after following up his 97 in the Eliminator, narrowly missing out on centuries in successive playoff matches. Even so, his innings helped Rajasthan recover to 214/6 after an uncertain start.Gill believes the challenges posed by Sooryavanshi are only going to grow for bowlers in the years ahead.“I think, in the years to come, the opposition that he plays against is going to have a tough time against him.”Sooryavanshi’s stunning campaign has earned praise from across the cricketing world, and Gill’s comments add another glowing endorsement to a season that has rewritten expectations of what a 15-year-old can achieve at the highest level of franchise cricket.
