Royal Challengers Bengaluru batsman Devdutt Padikal has praised teenage sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi, calling him a “rare talent” and admitting that it would be “foolish” to try to copy his batting style.“In IPL 2026, both Vibhu Suryavanshi and Devdutt Padikal have emerged as two of the most devastating left-handed batsmen in the tournament, enthralling fans with their fearless stroke play and explosive scoring. Their relationship reached a historic milestone on 19 May during a crucial clash against Lucknow Supergiants, when the 15-year-old Suryavanshi scored a sensational 93 off just 38 balls. This innings helped him become the youngest batsman in the history of world cricket to score more than 500 runs in a T20 tournament season. In the process, Suryavanshi broke the previous record held by Padikal, who scored 580 runs at the age of 19 during the 2019–20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. Interestingly, both the left-handers have also played key tactical roles for their respective franchises this season, often used as impact players to bolster batting depth and spur scoring during crucial phases.Speaking on JioStar, Padikkal praised the young prodigy’s exceptional power hitting ability and maturity at such a young age.“What Vaibhu Suryavanshi does is truly unique. At his age, having that kind of power and explosiveness in his batting is special,” Padikal said.“He is a rare talent, and what he does is unbelievable. For me, I focus on my strengths and try to get the best out of myself. I don’t compare myself to others because there are many talented players in this tournament. I keep it simple and work as much as possible to improve my game,” he added.Vibhu Suryavanshi has scored 579 runs in 13 innings, while Devdutt Padikal has scored 412 runs in 12 innings in the ongoing IPL 2026 league stage.
