Former England skipper Michael Vaughan rated Vaibhav Suryavanshi as India’s best opening batter right now amid the ongoing IPL 2026. Suryavanshi scored a magnificent knock of 93 runs off just 38 balls with the help of seven fours and 10 sixes in the run chase of 221 against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.
The left-hander got off to a slow start, scoring only five runs off the first 10 deliveries he faced but he was able to change gears. The southpaw scored his runs at a blistering strike rate of 244.74 and thus was awarded Player of the Match.
Suryavanshi is currently the highest run getter in IPL 2026 with 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 44.54 and a whirlwind strike rate of 236.32.
Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz, “50-over cricket, maybe he has a little bit more to learn. But in T20s, he’s the best opening batter India have right now. So he should be in the national team. Mitchell Marsh is a senior hitter of the cricket ball. He scored 96 off 59 deliveries, and we thought wow, what an innings. The young kid has just done it off 38 balls.”
Vaughan said Suryavanshi deserves a spot in India’s T20 team but fails to understand why BCCI is protecting the youngster.
“If he was 18,19 or 20, he would be playing for India. It’s his age number that’s stopping him from playing for India. If you are just picking who’s the best opener from this IPL, it’s this young lad. I understand India are trying to protect him in some way as he’s so young. But he’s warranting a place in the national white-ball team, particularly in T20 cricket.”
The former England batter said the 15-year-old batter is on a different planet as he has performed consistently without any fear.
“He’s making world-class hitters of the white ball just look okay. Look at Jaiswal, who was the reason they got off to the quick start. And his knock pales in comparison to Vaibhav. He’s on a different planet. He strikes the ball as well as I’ve ever seen anyone do it. He might as well keep that Orange Cap for the next 20 years,” said Vaughan (via the aforementioned source).
“We’ve generally heard the ‘Sachin, Sachin’ chants in Mumbai. But come Sunday, the 40,000-odd people will want this kid to win in the MI-RR clash. The whole of India will want to see a bit more of Rajasthan to watch the 15-year-old in the playoffs.”
Rajasthan Royals will play their last league stage match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.
