IPL 2026: “So happy to be wrong..”- Robin Uthappa after his prediction about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi proven incorrect

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has scored 200 runs in 4 games in IPL 2026 with a strike rate of 266.66.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa had predicted some downtime for young Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the IPL 2026 season. The now 15-year-old lad from Bihar had made a stellar debut in IPL in 2025, becoming the youngest in IPL and T20 cricket to score a century and the fastest ton by an Indian in the competition.

He had also hit the first ball he faced in IPL for a six and has only grown in stature since then. Sooryavanshi amassed 252 runs in 7 games with a strike rate of 206.55 in IPL 2025 with one century and one fifty, hitting 18 fours and 24 sixes.

Uthappa had hinted earlier this year that Sooryavanshi would experience second-season blues, pointing out that his success required a little bit of luck and surprise. He anticipated that the young player would improve and score runs, but not to the same extent as last season, when he scored the fastest century by an Indian, because he believed bowlers would adjust, making it more difficult.

However, Sooryavanshi had proven Uthappa wrong in the IPL 2026, having scored 200 runs in 4 games with 2 fifties and a strike rate of 266.66.

After Sooryavanshi destroyed the famous RCB bowling lineup featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood in Guwahati, a fan recalled Robin Uthappa’s words about the teenage opener.

“Robin Uthappa's prediction on Suryavanshi will be the worst in the history of cricket. Man is going to get cooked all his life for this one statement,” the fan posted.

Uthappa said that Sooryavanshi had no second-season blues and that he was glad to be proven incorrect about Sooryavanshi. He described the 15-year-old as a generational talent, complimented his better preparation, and stressed that he never labeled his prior accomplishments a fluke. He also said that he looks ahead of bowlers.

“I am only SO HAPPY to be wrong about this. Second-season blues are a reality in professional sport. It’s a part and parcel of professional sport. I have absolutely no qualms in saying that he’s not having second-season blues at the moment, and he’s come to this season heaps better prepared than the last one. He looks like he’s one perhaps 2 steps ahead of the bowlers he’s going up against! Truly a generational talent and I pray he will continue in this same way for the rest of career. And one clarification: I NEVER CALLED HIM OR HIS PERFORMANCE LAST SEASON A FLUKE!! Peace out,” he posted.

With the win, the Royals stayed unbeaten with four victories and a net run rate of +2.055. The 2008 champions next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 13 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.