Saba Karim Declares the Dawn of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Era
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New Delhi, April 11 (NationPress) Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim emphasized the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who dazzled with a remarkable 78-run innings, further showcasing his exceptional form at the top of the batting order. Karim expressed that the 15-year-old's ‘era has just begun’.
The cricketing world is currently buzzing about Sooryavanshi's remarkable ability to take on some of the best fast bowlers with confidence, aiding Rajasthan Royals (RR) in securing explosive starts during the IPL 2026 powerplay. On Friday, bowlers such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were challenged as Sooryavanshi launched a fierce assault on the seasoned RCB pair, scoring 78 runs from just 26 balls.
“This was an extraordinary performance. It feels like the era of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is just starting, and watching him bat is a true delight. His talent is evident, blending confident stroke play with a mature mindset. He appeared comfortable facing both speed and quality spin, executing shots all around the wicket. He seemed to be pacing himself towards a century after a dynamic start in the powerplay, beginning to rotate the strike and seek singles. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition, but it reflects a commendable approach,” Karim shared with JioStar.
Earlier, RCB’s senior fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar also praised Sooryavanshi in the post-match press conference, recognizing that he significantly shifted the momentum away from RCB early in the chase.
“It’s a T20 match. Although he is young, he is playing exceptionally well and with great maturity. We never felt like we were being overpowered. If a 15-year-old can perform like this, age doesn’t matter in T20 cricket. His shots are classic, not just wild swings. For someone so young, he displays remarkable maturity. He deserves all the accolades for his batting performance. The way Vaibhav played in the powerplay truly turned the game against us,” Bhuvneshwar remarked after the match.