Ahead of the Rajasthan Royals' highly anticipated opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took a moment to reflect on the legends who shaped his game. The teenage prodigy revealed that while growing up, he idolised West Indian master Brian Lara and former Indian icon Yuvraj Singh, noting that their explosive styles left a lasting impression on him.
Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara are Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's childhood heroes
Sooryavanshi’s insights come at a massive moment for both him and his franchise. The Rajasthan Royals are set to launch their 2026 campaign on March 30 against the formidable, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings. Sooryavanshi, fresh off winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, is expected to play a vital role in the Royals' pursuit of the title. The young phenom has been breaking records across all formats ever since he made history ahead of the 2025 season by becoming the youngest player ever to secure an IPL contract at just 13 years old.
Speaking during an interview on JioStar, the rising star elaborated on what drew him to his childhood heroes. He explained that he deeply admired both Lara and Yuvraj for their incredible ability to single-handedly take control of a game and finish matches under pressure.
"I saw both, Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh, finish matches single-handedly. If they were in, there was no chance for the opponent to come back into the game, and that was something I really liked about them," Sooryavanshi said ahead of RR versus CSK clash on March 30.
Following his groundbreaking selection by RR, Sooryavanshi shared his clear strategic focus for the upcoming season. The young batting prodigy emphasized his intent to provide the team with explosive starts at the top of the order, specifically aiming to play aggressively during the high-stakes powerplay overs before converting those fast starts into massive, long innings.
While his individual records are already historic, the teenage sensation made it clear that personal accolades are not his primary focus.
"When I was picked, my only goal was to give the team a good start. I wanted to play my game in the Powerplay, and if I got a good start, I wanted to continue and play long without giving my wicket away. I knew that if I played my shots, the scenario of the game would change, because chasing 200-plus runs would not be easy for any team. This season, the goal is to win the trophy for the team. My performances and the team's performances will automatically get highlighted if we win the trophy, and that is the most important thing," he added.
Sooryavanshi made history during the IPL mega auction ahead of the 2025 season when he secured a ₹1.1 crore deal with the Rajasthan Royals. At just 13 years old, the staggering bid officially made him the youngest player ever to secure an IPL contract. He didn't take long to prove he belonged on the big stage, announcing his arrival in spectacular fashion by launching the very first ball of his IPL career for a six. He continued his record-shattering streak during a clash against the Gujarat Titans later that season. At the age of 14, Sooryavanshi became the youngest centurion in T20 history and also became the first Indian to score the fastest fifty in the IPL. By the end of his debut campaign, he had firmly established himself as one of the most exciting emerging stars in the league. Over the course of seven innings, the young phenom amassed an impressive 252 runs at an average of 36.00.