Jos Buttler snubs Abhishek Sharma to declare Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the best player he has ever seen

At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of India’s most promising cricketing talents. The explosive opening batter has consistently demonstrated his skill on the big stage, making a big impact since his debut for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025. His ability to handle high-pressure situations was most recently on display during India’s successful U-19 World Cup 2026 campaign, where his contributions helped the team secure a record-breaking sixth title by defeating England in the final.

ALSO READ: Suspense ends over India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup clash as Pakistan government issues official statement

Jos Buttler lavishes praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

His precocious talent has not gone unnoticed by the international cricket community, earning him high praise from seasoned veterans. Former England captain and teammate Jos Buttler recently expressed his admiration for the young southpaw during an appearance on the Love for Cricket podcast. Buttler admitted to being shocked by the maturity and technical prowess Sooryavanshi displays at such a young age, labeling him a standout player with an exceptionally bright future in the sport.

"My statement is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's the best player I've ever seen, 'cause I'm like, who else was doing this at 14 years old?" Buttler said. "If he's doing that at 14, what's he gonna be doing at 16, 18, 20?," Buttler said.

Buttler has been vocal in his support of Sooryavanshi’s immense potential, noting that the youngster has already proven himself on cricket's biggest stages. Buttler pointed to Sooryavanshi's fearless debut in the IPL, where he famously hit his very first ball for six, as evidence of his readiness. Having witnessed the teenager's talent firsthand, Buttler remains convinced that his trajectory is only going upward.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting wizardry in U-19 World Cup 2026 final

The young left-hander's performance in the U-19 World Cup final against England was nothing short of historic. Sooryavanshi dismantled the bowling attack, smashing 175 runs off just 80 deliveries—an innings featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes. At one point, his explosive scoring rate had India projected to cross a total of 500, effectively taking the game away from England single-handedly.

ALSO READ: BCCI rejects Indian team management's request of allowing players' families to stay with them during T20 World Cup 2026: Report

This dominance earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards. Throughout the competition, the Bihar-born cricketer was a model of aggressive consistency, finishing with 439 runs at an average of 62.7 and a staggering strike rate of 169.49. His tournament tally included three half-centuries and a defining hundred in the final.

Sooryavanshi had already made waves before the World Cup by becoming the youngest player in history to sign an IPL contract at age 13. He later cemented his legacy by scoring an IPL century against the Gujarat Titans—reaching the milestone in just 35 balls to record the second-fastest century in the league's history. This feat also made him the youngest-ever centurion in men’s T20 cricket. As the next IPL season approaches, all eyes will be on the 14-year-old phenom to see how he builds on these record-breaking achievements