Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has sounded warning bells for young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who’ll turn out for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming IPL 2026. Uthappa warned the youngster that he may have ridden his luck until now, but people have likely figured out where to bowl to him to dismiss him.
Uthappa anticipated that with a 'higher' standard, Sooryavanshi would find that his 'novelty has worn off', making the league season more 'educational' and something he'd need to learn from in his career.
Sooryavanshi smashed scores of records when he made his Rajasthan Royals debut in IPL 2025 at the age of 14, collecting 252 runs at a league-high strike rate of 206.55, including a remarkable 35-ball century against one of the league's top bowling attacks, the Gujarat Titans.
Since then, Sooryavanshi made his FC debut for Bihar and has won the U19 World Cup for India, playing a crucial knock in the final against England U19.
“I have been keenly observing every game Vaibhav is playing over the last 12 months. He is phenomenal. But if you are going to watch him bat, I feel he is riding his luck a little bit. And when the standard gets a little bit higher and a little tougher, people now know where to bowl to him.
The novelty has worn off. I think that right now, he is riding that luck a little bit, which is fine. I think this season will be educational for him and will serve him in the long run. He will still score runs, but I don’t think he will be all that he was last year,” Uthappa said on Star Sports.
But on the same show, his former India teammate Irfan Pathan disagreed.
“Even after the IPL, you maintain the same run wherever you play, and that is where he gives me a lot of confidence. If it were up and down here, then I would be afraid. I really think he will make another fast half-century minimum, or even a century," Pathan said.
Rajasthan Royals will play three of their first four matches in Guwahati, with their tournament opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
