Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's stunning 97 off 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator has drawn high praise from former South Africa batter AB de Villiers, who called the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener's game awareness 'remarkable' for his age. The knock powered RR to a commanding total and a 47-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, sending them into Qualifier 2.

The Innings That Stopped Everyone

Sooryavanshi dismantled SRH's bowling attack with breathtaking strokeplay, helping Rajasthan Royals race to 125 runs in just eight overs. Despite skipper Pat Cummins deploying defensive fields, yorker-heavy tactics, and constant field changes to disrupt the teenager's rhythm, every plan was countered with fearless, calculated hitting.

De Villiers, speaking to JioStar, said what set the innings apart was not just the shot-making but the composure behind it. 'What stood out most about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's innings was his composure and clarity under pressure at just 15 years of age. Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad kept trying different plans, constantly changing the field and mixing their lengths to disrupt his rhythm, but he stayed completely locked into his own bubble throughout the innings. That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young,' de Villiers said.

Prepared for Every Plan

De Villiers elaborated on how Sooryavanshi appeared to have studied and anticipated every tactical adjustment SRH attempted. 'Whether they bowled short or tried to surprise him with fuller deliveries, he seemed prepared for every plan and was in control against all of them. Scoring 97 off just 29 balls in an Eliminator, while dominating all parts of the ground, was an extraordinary display of fearless batting and showed why he is already being spoken about alongside some of the most explosive players the IPL has seen,' he added.

Mental Maturity Beyond His Years

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru star was equally struck by Sooryavanshi's pre-match preparation and mental routines. 'What's most impressive about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the clarity he already has around his preparation and routines at just 15 years of age. Hearing him talk about visualising match-ups, studying bowlers, and mentally preparing before games shows a level of maturity that is very rare at that age,' de Villiers said.

He drew a comparison with legendary Australian opener Matthew Hayden, renowned for his visualisation routines during his playing career. 'It actually reminded me a little of Matthew Hayden, who used to spend time visualising on the pitch before batting. Over the course of his career, many of those routines will evolve, but the important thing is that Vaibhav is already building his own habits and processes instead of trying to copy others,' the former Proteas great noted.

What's Next for Rajasthan Royals

De Villiers concluded by highlighting how individuality would be key to Sooryavanshi's long-term success at the highest level. 'The best players in the world eventually discover what works authentically for them, and Vaibhav already seems to have that understanding very early in his journey,' he said.

Rajasthan Royals will next face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday at the same venue in New Chandigarh.