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Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi prefers scoring runs for team's winning cause than for his personal milestones. That's what his father told him and the prodigious batter is doing the same in the ongoing season of the IPL.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi recalls father's advice ahead of IPL 2026 Qualifier 2
The wonderkid once again stole the spotlight with a spectacular knock during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 27. Sooryavanshi played a blistering knock, smashing 97 runs off just 29 balls in a powerhouse performance that featured five boundaries and 12 massive sixes. He ultimately missed out on claiming the record for the fastest century in IPL history when he attempted an upper-cut off Praful Hinge and was caught at deep third man.
Despite narrowly missing the historic personal milestone, the young prodigy demonstrated maturity well beyond his years by emphasizing a team-first mindset. Speaking ahead of RR's crucial Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans, Sooryavanshi made it clear that helping his franchise secure wins is far more valuable to him than breaking individual records.
The youngster credited his grounded perspective to his upbringing, revealing that his father taught him from an early age that personal achievements only truly matter if they contribute to the team's success. With this selfless attitude and incredible form, the Rajasthan Royals opener is proving to be a vital asset in his team's championship pursuit.
"Since childhood, my father has always told me that if you score a hundred, a double hundred, or even a triple hundred, but the team does not win because of it, then those runs hold no value," Sooryavanshi told JioStar.
"They may only be for your personal record, but they do not benefit the team. Cricket, in the end, is a team game. So, if I score 80 instead of a hundred and my team wins, and if we still do not win despite me scoring a century, then that 80 means more to me than the hundred," he added.
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Sooryavanshi remains grounded despite his meteoric rise, noting that helping the Rajasthan Royals progress further in the tournament will naturally create more opportunities for him to achieve personal milestones. His focus stays locked on collective success rather than individual accolades as the tournament reaches its business end.
"The longer my team stays in the tournament and the deeper we go into the playoffs and finals, the more chances I will get to score hundreds and achieve whatever records I want to break. So, it benefits both me personally and the team as well," he further added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sets sights on IPL 2026 trophy
The 15-year-old prodigy has enjoyed a truly remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, establishing himself as one of the tournament's most destructive batters. Across 15 innings, Sooryavanshi has amassed 680 runs at an impressive average of 45.33 and an astonishing strike rate of 242.85. His stellar run includes one century and four half-centuries, a haul built on an aggressive approach that has seen him smash 55 fours and 65 sixes from just 280 balls faced. Looking ahead to tonight's high-stakes Qualifier 2 clash against the Gujarat Titans, where a place in the IPL 2026 final against RCB is on the line, the youngster is determined to keep his composure.
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