Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has 680 runs in 15 games at a strike rate of 242.58 in IPL 2026.
Against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on Wednesday, Sooryavanshi once again stole the show with an incredible 97 off just 29 balls. With an incredible strike rate of 242.86 and an average of 45.33, this powerful knock increased his season total to 680 runs, solidifying his status as one of the tournament's breakthrough stars.
Patience is crucial, according to Chopra, who cautioned against upsetting an established Indian batting lineup that includes players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, both of whom had successful IPL seasons.
“We are still 2 years away from the next World Cup. There will be time. Yes, it’s exciting. It’s something that is there which you cannot possibly ignore because IPL is India’s best T20 tournament. So, if somebody is just breaking records, shattering records, you’ve got to take it seriously, and this kid is special. There’s no doubt about it. But then you just don’t make changes for the sake of making changes because somebody else has done well," said Chopra on Star Sports.
“It’s very simple for somebody to go out; you need to fail that exam. If somebody’s a topper already, how can you just replace the topper because you think somebody else will actually get more grades? I mean, he is a topper,” he added.
Chopra further emphasized that Indian cricket must avoid sliding into a cycle of constantly replacing veteran players as new, young potential arises. He was referring to Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who have done exceptionally well for India as openers in recent times.
“You’re talking about Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. You’re not replacing them right now because if you were to do that, I can give you in writing, in two or three years, and if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes through a bad patch, you’re going to follow the same principle. So Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh, and Pragyan Ojha will face a lot of scrutiny and pressure, but they need to do what is right for Indian cricket, and he represents Indian cricket,” Chopra stated.
“He’s not Indian cricket. I mean, he is a part of Indian cricket, and I think that fact is not lost on any of the selectors, and they’ll do the right thing, but it doesn’t have to happen tomorrow. It can take time. He’s got 20 years ahead of him, so there’s no rush," Chopra added.
Sooryavanshi has already earned his maiden India A call-up for the forthcoming one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, which will also feature Afghanistan. India A will be captained by Tilak Varma, and Riyan Parag will be the vice-captain.