Rajasthan Royals have had a very consistent start this season under the leadership of their new captain Riyan Parag, but the highlight of their successful campaign has been 15-year-old young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The youngster has been the highlight of RR’s batting order not only because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has amassed 400 runs in this IPL season but also because of the class with which he has consistently been adding runs to his team’s tally, especially in the powerplay.

Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara praised Rajasthan Royals batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless batting approach and the surprising consistency with which he has been scoring runs for his team.

It’s pure cinema: Cheteshwar Pujara praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

After his 16-ball 43 against Punjab Kings, Cheteshwar Pujara was in awe of Rajasthan Royals batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has earned a reputation as a destructive batsman in the powerplay, despite his young age.

Speaking on JioHotstar, the expert batsman added that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is so successful because of his fearless approach to the game and despite the approach, the amount of consistency he brings to the top of the order.

“It is pure cinema to watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat. The way he approaches every bowler with that fearless mentality is remarkable. He simply looks at the ball and steps back to hit it. What stands out is that even when the opponent knows he is going to attack, they still struggle to contain him. That consistency, combined with his fearless intent in the Powerplay, is what gives his team a decisive advantage and sets up games like this,” Pujara said.

Pujara praised Yuzvendra Chahal’s smart bowling despite Punjab Kings’ loss

In a game that largely belonged to the batsmen, the only man who was great with the ball was Yuzvendra Chahal, the veteran spinner in the Punjab Kings line-up. Until Harpreet Brar joined Yuzi Chahal, they controlled the Royals’ innings and at the same time dismissed players like Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Riyan Parag.

While Harpreet was economical, Chahal was a steady addition to the wicket tally. He bowled a spectacular spell of 3/36 in his four overs, as the Royals chased a massive target of 223 runs. Pujara praised Chahal for his intelligence and the way he excelled by committing to his strategy, which made him so effective in T20 cricket.

“Yuzvendra Chahal was exceptional, especially in the way he used his variations. Even after taking a hit, he had the courage to keep throwing the ball, changing his pace and lines to create opportunities.”

“His control over speed, which ranges from the mid-70s to the mid-90s, makes it difficult for batsmen to settle in. In T20 cricket, that variation is crucial, and what stood out was his willingness to stick to his plans and attack, which made for a highly impactful period,” he said.

Does PBKS need to reinvent its bowling platform to regain winning momentum in IPL 2026?

After the loss against Rajasthan Royals, the Punjab Kings management, along with Ricky Ponting, would be forced to consider the major gaps in their bowling attack, which so far this season has been largely excused due to the overwhelming performance of the batsmen.

However, on most occasions, the Kings bowlers have given up over 200 easy runs each time they came out to bat. With Lockie Ferguson returning to the team and Marco Jansen being taken for runs, PBKS could consider their second opener Azmatullah Omarzai, who is known to have a reputation as a seamer.

What they have lacked the most is a bowler who can restrict the run flow. For Punjab, picking wickets has not been a concern; The concern has been the economy in which their players have lost races, which is something they would need to rectify to come back and continue their winning streak.

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