LONDON
Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has heaped praise on fifteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting the teenager’s relentless hunger for new challenges. According to Karthik, the young prodigy’s ability to consistently rise to the occasion is what makes him a special talent.
Sooryavanshi’s rapid ascent has been nothing short of extraordinary. After leading India to Under-19 World Cup glory, he dominated the IPL 2026 season, scoring 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. “Every test you can put in front of him, he has passed with flying colours,” Karthik noted during a recent press conference. “Every time he clears one level, we look for the next challenge.”
Karthik, who observed Sooryavanshi closely while serving as a coach in the IPL, explained how difficult the youngster is to contain. During a match in Guwahati, even world-class bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood struggled to find a weakness in his game. “He was the toughest batter to bowl to this IPL,” Karthik added.
Beyond his aggressive power-hitting, Karthik highlighted Sooryavanshi’s smarts, noting that he is not a one-dimensional player and knows when to rotate the strike. Currently with the Indian team in Ireland, the young batter is preparing for a five-match series in England. Karthik emphasized the importance of preserving the youngster’s natural technique, urging future coaches not to tamper with his unique and beautiful bat swing as he begins his international journey.