Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has showered praise on Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing the teenage batting sensation as the greatest signing in the history of the tournament.Rajasthan Royals had picked up Sooryavanshi for Rs 1.1 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, where he became the youngest player ever bought in IPL history at just 13 years of age. What initially appeared to be a bold investment has now turned into one of the most remarkable success stories the league has witnessed.Taking to X after another stunning display from the youngster, Modi wrote: “Best buy of any player in history @Vaibhavsooryava by @rajasthanroyals.”
Lalit Modi post
The praise came after Sooryavanshi produced yet another extraordinary innings during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 Eliminator clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in New Chandigarh. The 15-year-old demolished the SRH bowling attack with a breathtaking 97 off only 29 balls, helping RR secure a commanding 47-run victory and book their place in Qualifier 2.His explosive innings also earned him the Player of the Match award and pushed him to the top of the Orange Cap standings. Sooryavanshi has now scored 680 runs in 15 matches this season, continuing one of the most dominant campaigns ever produced by a teenager in franchise cricket.
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During the knock, the left-handed opener shattered several major records. He surpassed fellow Rajasthan Royals batter Yashasvi Jaiswal’s tally of 626 runs from IPL 2023 to register the highest-ever run aggregate by an uncapped player in a single IPL season.The teenager also rewrote the six-hitting record books. Sooryavanshi has now smashed 65 sixes this season, the most by any batter in IPL history. He went past Chris Gayle’s long-standing record during his innings against Hyderabad and needed only 15 deliveries to move beyond the mark.His tally of 65 sixes is now also the highest recorded by any player in a T20 tournament or series.In another remarkable achievement, Sooryavanshi equalled Gayle’s record for the most IPL innings featuring 10 or more sixes. The first time he crossed the 10-sixes mark came earlier in the tournament during his maiden IPL century against Gujarat Titans, when he hammered 101 off just 38 deliveries.The RR opener also became the first player ever to score 600 runs in a T20 tournament before turning 16.
