‘Our hopes sit with you, young sir’ – Dale Steyn’s special ‘Test cricket’ request for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the biggest revelations of IPL 2026, captivating fans and cricket experts alike with his fearless batting and remarkable maturity at just 15 years of age. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener has consistently taken on some of the best bowlers in the tournament, establishing himself as one of the leading run-scorers this season and a strong contender for the Orange Cap.

The teenage sensation once again showcased his immense talent in Rajasthan Royals’ Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, May 31. Although the Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat to bow out of the tournament, Sooryavanshi’s dazzling 96-run knock ensured he remained the centre of attention.

His performances have attracted praise from across the cricketing world, with former South Africa fast-bowling great Dale Steyn highlighting the youngster’s potential impact beyond white-ball cricket.

Taking to social media, Steyn expressed hope that Sooryavanshi would one day aspire to represent India in the longest format of the game. 

“There’s no bigger advertisement for Test cricket than if Sooryavanshi tells the world his dream is to play red ball for India. Our hopes sit with you, young sir,” Steyn wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada was full of praise for the Rajasthan Royals opener following his brilliant innings in Qualifier 2. The South African pacer admitted that Sooryavanshi continues to leave even experienced international players amazed with his fearless approach and natural batting instincts.

Speaking after the match, Rabada highlighted the youngster’s ability to read bowlers quickly and play with complete freedom.

“He just keeps amazing everyone who watches the game. He’s got such fast hands, and he picks length quickly. He’s got so much energy. When you’re young, you have so much energy and no fear, and that’s exactly what he’s shown, no fear and just a natural instinct for the game that allows him to perform the way he is performing,” Rabada told JioStar.

Rabada also suggested that discussions surrounding Sooryavanshi’s age have become secondary given the level of performances he has delivered throughout the season.

“At this stage, you throw age out of the window; it doesn’t matter how old he is. It’s amazing what he’s doing,” he added.

Despite Rajasthan Royals falling short of a place in the final, Sooryavanshi’s breakthrough campaign has been one of the defining stories of IPL 2026.