'2-3 hazaar runs': 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sets sky-high IPL 2026 target - WATCH

NEW DELHI — When Rajasthan Royals open their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on 30 March at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, all eyes will be fixed on one name: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Barely 14, the batting prodigy has already forced the cricket world to recalibrate its notions of teenage possibility, and he appears determined to keep raising the bar.

Sooryavanshi’s audacious 175 in the final of the recently-concluded U-19 World Cup 2026 is still being replayed on highlight reels across the country, a knock that powered India to the title and burnished his reputation as the most precocious batting talent of his generation. That innings followed a trail of dominant performances in age-group cricket, where his solid technique, fearless stroke-play and ability to clear the boundary at will have become hallmarks.

Yet for a player whose bat does the loudest talking, Sooryavanshi is quickly learning to handle the noise off the field. Once visibly shy in front of cameras, the youngster showcased a new-found comfort during a Rajasthan Royals promotional event this week. Asked by a reporter to outline his personal targets for the upcoming season, Sooryavanshi dead-panned: “Aisa question bologe to main do-teen hazaar runs bol doonga,” sending the entire room into laughter. The quip—translating loosely to “Ask me that and I’ll say two-three thousand runs”—was delivered with the timing of a seasoned entertainer.

The laughter subsided, but the message remained grounded. “Aisa kuch plan nehi kar sakta na ki mujhe itne run banana hae,” he continued. “Jo process hae wo follow kar rahe hae aur team ke liye trophy jeetna hae.” Translation: there is no personal run quota in his diary; the focus is on process and silverware. “Baaki personal goals pe aisa kuch focus nehi hae. Bas humlog apne process pe dhyan de rahe hain aur accha karke ko dekh rahe hae is season.”

That philosophy has already paid dividends. Last season, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player ever to register an IPL century, a feat that catapulted him into headlines and heightened expectations for 2026. Royals management will hope the teen’s maturity beyond years translates into match-winning contributions from the opening slot, especially against a seasoned Chennai attack on the tricky Guwahati surface.

For now, the batting sensation insists he is not crunching numbers, only deliveries. If the process is indeed king, the runs—and perhaps the trophies—could follow in regal fashion.