Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the best T20 batting prospect Graeme Smith has seen, with the former South Africa captain praising the teenager's remarkable power-hitting and backing India's decision to fast-track him at the international level.
Speaking during the latest season of the IPL, Smith told cricket betting site Betway that Sooryavanshi had "captured the imagination of the cricketing world" and stood apart from every young batting talent he has seen since T20 cricket emerged on the global stage.
The 15-year-old had a blazing debut season last year, where he also became the fastest IPL centurion from India. Since then, he has gone on to impress in the Youth ODIs, including making 175 in 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final this year. A record-breaking IPL 2026, where he made 776 runs at 44.69 at a strike rate of 237.30 - the highest by any batter in a T20 tournament (min. 400 runs), meant he got his first senior India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, along with the Asian Games.
"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has captured the imagination of the cricketing world. Everyone’s talking about him," Smith said.
"It’s the nature of cricket where everyone just keeps being sceptical, 'let’s see him do it outside of India. Let’s see him do it in international cricket.' But I’ve not seen a guy who is that consistent in power hitting against some of the best in the world."
The former South Africa captain went even further when comparing Sooryavanshi to other prospects he has watched emerge over the last two decades.
"There have been some unbelievable prospects in different formats of the game over the years, but I can’t remember a better batting prospect since T20 took off around 2007."
"He consistently scores all around the park. It’s not like he’s got one side that he targets. We’ve seen people attack him with the short ball, and he’s had options for that, and the margin for error when bowling to him is minimal."
Smith also welcomed India's willingness to select Sooryavanshi and invest in youth despite entering the cycle as reigning world champions.
"It’s an interesting selection from India, and brave for a team that’s just won a World Cup to make the big, bold calls they have. I think it’s smart. There are two years between World Cups and they’re giving their young talent the best chance to get as many games as possible before the next World Cup."
"They’re blessed with talent, but I think the selectors have shown courage and foresight. You might not win everything up front, but the plan is to be ready for two years’ time, and I think it’s food for thought for the other countries."
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