Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has praised teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the youngster’s fearless batting and ability to perform at such a young age make him special.Speaking to news agency ANI, Dhawan said it is a big achievement for a 15-year-old to reach the international level and deliver consistent performances. He also pointed to Sooryavanshi’s IPL displays, saying the teenager’s confidence in hitting boundaries stands out.Dhawan said talent alone is not enough, and added that having the courage and mindset to play attacking cricket at such a young age is what sets Sooryavanshi apart. He also backed the youngster to continue doing well in the years ahead.“He is batting very superbly. And it’s a very big thing that at the age of 15 or 16, reaching the international level first is a big thing in itself. Even when he was playing in the IPL. But the way he hits fours and sixes, that’s a wonderful thing. Having skill is one thing, but having the heart for it, and that too at 15, is a very big thing. And I’m sure that his present is also very good and his future will also be very good,” Dhawan said.Sooryavanshi, 15, recently enjoyed a successful T20I series against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches to win his maiden Player of the Series award as India completed a 3-0 clean sweep.Earlier, during the T20I series against England, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to make his international debut for India.His India debut came after a successful IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. He scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five fifties. He finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer and hit a record 72 sixes.Sooryavanshi also won the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes awards after the season.Earlier this year, he also impressed in the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, scoring 439 runs and winning the Player of the Tournament award.
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