Stumped podcast: The teen sensation hitting the IPL for six

Jaipur, 2025 — At an age when most players are still in the academy nets, Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is dismantling IPL attacks with the composure of a seasoned campaigner. His latest statement came against Chennai Super Kings: a blistering 15-ball half-century that rocketed him into the tournament’s spotlight and marked his third fifty in only a handful of appearances.

The innings, laced with clean strikes into the Sawai Mansingh Stadium stands, was the centrepiece of the latest episode of the BBC’s Stumped podcast, where presenters Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta dissected the impact of Indian cricket’s newest prodigy. Sooryavanshi’s strike-rate fireworks have not only boosted the Royals’ middle-order momentum but have also sparked debate about how young is too young for cricket’s most pressurised stage.

While the IPL spotlight burns bright, the panel turned attention across the border to the concurrent Pakistan Super League. Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa’s decision to skip the IPL and ply his trade in the PSL this season raised eyebrows; the podcast team asked whether other overseas stars could follow suit, tempted by favourable conditions, new markets or simply a fresh challenge.

The global cricketing carousel did not stop there. Stumped also ventured east to Japan, where the Japan Super League is quietly gaining traction. Alan Curr, Chief Operating Officer of the Japan Cricket Association, told the programme how the sport is taking root in a country synonymous with sumo, cherry blossom and motorsport. Curr outlined ambitious plans for domestic expansion and highlighted growing grassroots participation that could yet produce Japan’s own teenage sensations.

As the IPL caravan rolls on, all eyes will remain fixed on Sooryavanshi’s next outing. If his opening gambits are any indication, the 15-year-old is intent on turning every over into a highlight reel—and every bowling figure into a nightmare.