former veteran spinner Anil Kumble Rajasthan Royals (RR) teenage player Vaibhav Suryavanshi was full of praise ahead of the high-pressure eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026.
The 15-year-old batsman has emerged as one of the biggest talking points of the season with his fearless batting and remarkable patience at such a young age. Despite failing to make an impact in Rajasthan's previous game against Mumbai Indians (MI), former India head coach Kumble believes the youngster will continue to favor his natural style in the knockout match.
Speaking ahead of RR's game against SRH, Kumble highlighted how Suryavanshi has shown the temperament to handle pressure situations during the league stage itself.
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi will be keen to prove himself in the eliminator. He could only score four runs against MI in the last game, so this is a new opportunity. I don't think he sees it as a high-pressure knockout game. He should just go out and play his natural game. He is remarkably mature for 15 years. We saw that in his 90-plus innings against LSG, where he helped Rajasthan win a must-win match. The last two matches had to be won. “The game was to qualify, so there was serious pressure on that innings too, they played with the same freedom,” Kumble said on Star Sports' Amul Cricket Live.
Suryavanshi He has impressed fans and experts alike with his fearless determination at the top of the order, often facing experienced bowlers without hesitation. Kumble said that this young player's ability to remain calm and adapt is what sets him apart from many players of his age.
The former India captain further added that Suryavanshi's approach is unlikely to change even in the knockout matches, as the teenager understands the balance between aggression and responsibility.
“I don't think he will change his approach just because it is an eliminator. If the ball is in his slot, he will go for it. But if the situation demands, he also knows when to take his time and build the innings. That awareness is rare at his age. Be it a league game or a knockout, his mentality remains the same. That's what makes him so special,” he concluded.
With Rajasthan Royals set to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in an important eliminator, all eyes will once again be on the youngster. The winning team will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on May 29.
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