New Delhi: With his powerful strokeplay, ability to thrive under pressure, and ability to outplay some of the best bowlers in the world, young batsman Vibhu Suryavanshi has won praise from all quarters, including the legendary. Sachin Tendulkar.Tendulkar called Suryavanshi “really special” and said he would love to see the youngster play Test cricket, but cautioned against rushing him into the format. Suryavanshi enjoyed the IPL 2026 season Rajasthan RoyalsScored 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.31. His tally of 72 sixes not only underscored his dominance but also broke the record for most sixes in an IPL season, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous tally of 59.“Everyone is talking about Suryavanshi, and I saw him bat – it was brilliant,” said Tendulkar, who was named the best men’s international batsman of the 21st century at the Cricinfo Honors in Mumbai. “I mean he’s really something special. And not just the ability to hit the ball, but what impressed me was the wrist work that he has.“To be able to play in all directions of the ground, you need good wrist work. And he’s not slugging the ball. He’s just picking line and length before the rest of the guys and he’s able to clear the rope with ease.”There has been a lot of discussion about a possible Indian call-up for Suryavanshi. Head Coach of Rajasthan Royals Kumar Sangakkara had also backed the idea after the team’s defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, saying the 15-year-old was “more than ready” for international cricket.Meanwhile, Tendulkar said that he would like to see Suryavanshi play Test cricket.“I would tell him to be himself,” he said. “There is always a first time. As they age in Test cricket, they will learn how to deal with different challenges. [It’s about] Having a solution-oriented mindset. Problems are always there. On the last day of your career, there will be problems till the last ball. The bowler is asking a question on each ball. Now, what solution do you look for? He’s a player who looks very confident, very, very sure of what he wants to do and I wouldn’t want to play with his natural instincts.“The way he sees the ball and the way he responds to it, if that signal is interrupted – if you put a lot of obstacles in between by telling him a lot of things – that’s where the real challenge will be. I’ll give him the freedom to go out and bat the way he does. Over time, he’ll learn to deal with the other challenges of the game.“Not just me, everyone will want to see it. [playing Test cricket] at some stage. I don’t know when it’s going to happen. But an exciting talent needs encouragement. And if he’s doing well, then we need to encourage him and support him and above all enjoy him and not constantly press him, you know, he should play this, or he shouldn’t do that, or he should be in any team. Leave it to the boys [selectors] Who is responsible for it?“Suryavanshi has also been included in India’s 30-member probables list for the upcoming Asian Games.The men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to be held from September 24 to October 3.
