New Delhi, April 9: Former South African captain Graeme Smith believes that Rajasthan Royals’ young batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi has the potential to become a true superstar in IPL 2026. He expressed his excitement to see how Vaibhav performs in the remaining matches of the season.
At just 15 years and 12 days old, Vaibhav has already made a significant impact. His performance against the Mumbai Indians at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati was remarkable. He hit a six off the very first ball bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. So far in IPL 2026, Vaibhav has scored 122 runs at an impressive strike rate of 248 across three innings.
In his blog, Smith wrote, “The IPL has started just as I expected – with flat pitches and high-scoring matches. It’s always interesting to see how veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli perform, but I think the young player Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Rajasthan Royals has been a standout in the early tournament. He has already showcased his ability to hit powerful shots from the very first ball. As a young player, he could become a true superstar during this tournament, and I am very excited to see how he performs.”
Smith, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals team that won the inaugural IPL title in 2008, further elaborated on how the tournament’s robust scouting system and the franchise’s excellent operational style have transformed the global cricket landscape. He noted that this framework has also played a crucial role in the success of South Africa’s SA20 league. “Our six franchises are a significant and integral part of the SA20’s development. We were fortunate to have six high-quality IPL teams, and they are among the most experienced franchise owners in the world. They are very competitive and want to win, bringing the best standards in cricket and business from coaching to medical care. IPL franchises have outstanding scouts who discover talent,” he added.
Smith remarked that competing with the IPL is quite challenging for any league. “When you’re trying to rebuild and advance the cricket ecosystem, it’s fantastic to have partners like them. Competing with the IPL is almost impossible, but we have been fortunate that they have been very open with us and helped us achieve significant milestones early on.”
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