Past South Africa captain and IPL icon AB de Villiers praised him Rajasthan Royals young Vaibhav Suryavanshi The teenager produced sensational shot after sensation IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The 15-year-old striker produced one of the most fearless knocks ever seen in an IPL play-off match, scoring 97 runs from just 29 balls to guide Rajasthan Royals to Qualifier 2. His breathtaking knocks completely changed the momentum of the knockout clash and cricket experts were stunned at such a young age.
Speaking after the match, De Villiers admitted that what impressed him the most was not just Suryavanshi’s aggressive batting game, but the clarity and maturity he showed when dealing with pressure in a high-stakes contest.
AB de Villiers praises Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s magical knock
The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru superstar explained how Suryavanshi remained calm despite constant tactical changes by the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers. According to De Villiers, the SRH skipper Pat Cummins and his bowling unit kept experimenting with different plans to disrupt the youngster’s rhythm. From changing field locations to shuffling yorkers and short deliveries, Hyderabad tried everything possible to slow him down. However, Suryavanshi looked completely unflappable throughout his explosive innings.
De Villiers praised the youngster’s remarkable awareness in the chase and highlighted how rare such control was for a player aged just 15. The South African legend noted that the RR opener seemed ready for every bowling strategy thrown at him and never let the pressure of the Eliminator affect his shot selection or intent.
“What stood out most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings was his composure and clarity under pressure even at the age of 15. Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad kept trying different schemes, constantly changing the pitch and mixing up his lengths to break his rhythm, but he stuck to his game bubble throughout the game. Remarkable for someone so young.” De Villiers told JioStar.
Notably, Suryavanshi’s fearless approach nullified Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling plans during the Powerplay. Rajasthan Royals reached 125 runs in just eight runs as they relentlessly attacked the young opposition’s attack. Whether the bowlers targeted him with pace, bounces or fuller deliveries, the left-hander countered every move with confidence and authority. His ability to dominate all areas of the ground has left fans and pundits in disbelief. The innings included a surprising display of clean hitting, with Suryavanshi smashing powerful sixes and attacking some of the best bowlers in the tournament without hesitation.
De Villiers’ 97 off just 29 deliveries in a pressure-packed knock-out game was an extraordinary achievement and further proved why the youngster is already being discussed among the most explosive talents in IPL history.
“Whether they batted short or tried to surprise him with fuller outings, he seemed ready for every plan and in control against them all. Scoring 97 off just 29 balls in the Eliminator, dominating all parts of the ground, was an extraordinary display of fearless batting and showed why he is already talked about alongside some of the IPL’s most explosive players.” he added.
De Villiers compares to Matthew Hayden
Apart from his batting, De Villiers was equally impressed with Suryavanshi’s approach to preparation and mental work before matches. The Proteas senior showed that hearing a youngster talk about visualisation, analyzing bowlers and mentally preparing for specific matches reflects a level of professionalism rarely seen at such a young age.
Interestingly, De Villiers compared Suryavanshi’s preparation style with the legendary Australian game Matthew HaydenKnown for his extensive use of visualization techniques during his playing career. She explained that while Suryavanshi’s routines may continue to improve with practice, the most important aspect is that the teenager is already developing her own techniques rather than blindly copying others.
After the resounding win, Rajasthan Royals have now advanced to Qualifier 2 where they will face Gujarat Titans for a place in the IPL 2026 final.
