PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer praises RR youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as “one for the future” after his explosive IPL form, while also reflecting on his instinctive shot against Jasprit Bumrah.
Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer and rajasthan royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PC: IANS)
The undefeated Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals’ rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “rare talent” and someone destined for a big future in the Indian Premier League.
Sooryavanshi has been one of the breakout performers this season, scoring 246 runs in just six innings at an impressive average of 41 and a staggering strike rate of 236.53. His fearless approach and clean ball-striking have quickly made him one of the most exciting young batters to watch.
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“He is a spectacular talent, and all the adjectives would be pretty less for him. The way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum he creates before the delivery, I think he is one for the future,” Iyer said on JioStar’s Believe.
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While praising the youngster, Iyer has also quietly gone about his own business with the bat. The PBKS captain has amassed 208 runs in six innings at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 182.45, playing a key role in his side’s campaign.
Reflecting on one of his standout moments from IPL 2025, Iyer recalled an instinctive shot off Jasprit Bumrah during the second qualifier, a moment that highlighted his composure under pressure.
“It was completely instinctive. I was trying to hit him straight down the ground. That was the thought at the back of my mind, that wherever he bowled, I would target him straight. When you get into that position, your head is completely still and your body moves in a certain flow,” he said.
“When you are facing probably the best bowler in the world, who executes his angles and deliveries magnificently, you have to back your instincts. To play that shot and direct it towards third man while the field was in, I appreciated it as well.”
Interestingly, Iyer chose not to celebrate the moment, underlining his focus and mental discipline.
“I didn’t celebrate because I knew we had to come back and play there again after a day. If you show emotions, your heart rate goes up and down. Once you are in control of your emotions, you can be very clear in your mindset and decisive about the main goal,” he added.
With both Iyer and Sooryavanshi in fine form, the IPL continues to showcase a compelling mix of experience and emerging talent.
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