Rajasthan Royals' explosive batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned a crucial advice from Australian batting great Allan Border. Batting prodigy from Bihar has rapidly emerged as India's newest cricketing sensation. Despite being only 15 years old, his extraordinary batting prowess has captivated fans and experts alike. The young southpaw first grabbed national attention when RR invested Rs 1.1 crore to secure his services ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League season.
ALSO READ: Chaos in Puducherry cricket, 3 players suspended over U-19 coach assault charges
Sooryavanshi quickly justified the franchise's confidence in him with an explosive start to his IPL career. He made an immediate impact by striking a six on the very first ball he faced in the tournament. He followed this with a breathtaking performance in just his second match, smashing a 35-ball century. This remarkable feat established him as the record-holder for the fastest hundred by an Indian in IPL history and the second-fastest overall.
Allan Border all praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
His precocious talent has drawn high praise from cricketing legends, including Australian batting legend Border. Impressed by the teenager's technique and flair at the crease, Border noted that he sees significant shades of the legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara in Sooryavanshi’s playing style.
"I think Vaibhav's one hell of a player, a great talent. I have never seen any batter at the age of 14 or 15, hitting a cricket ball with so much of power. Of course, I can't predict at this moment if he will go on to become a very successful Test cricketer or not, but I can clearly see glimpses of Brian Lara in him. He has a long way to go, but he sure can hit that ball across all parts of the ground," Border told Mid-day.
ALSO READ: CSK coach announces Aussie star's inclusion in playing XI ahead of IPL 2026 clash vs MI
Vaibhav must now learn how to tighten his defence: Border
The batting great also shared some sage advice for 15-year-old Vaibhav as he navigates his early career. He clearly said that Vaibhav must learn how to tighten his defence.
"Vaibhav must now learn how to tighten his defence," Border added.
The young cricketer’s journey to the spotlight was not immediate; he spent the first half of the 2025 IPL season on the bench, waiting for his moment. That opportunity arrived when Sanju Samson sustained an injury, and the young southpaw made the most of it. He seized the chance with both hands, delivering an impressive 252 runs across seven matches, maintaining a solid average of 36.00 and a blistering strike rate of 206.56. This breakthrough form was no fluke, as he seamlessly replicated those heroics while representing India at the Under-19 level.
Building on that early promise, Vaibhav has firmly himself as a key figure for RR in the 2026 season. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the starting XI from the very first game. He has continued his upward trajectory in the current campaign, accumulating 254 runs in his first seven matches with an average of 36.28 and an even more aggressive strike rate of 213.5, signaling his rapid maturation as a premier white-ball batter.