Teenage sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi, who turns 15 today, is already regarded as one of the most devastating hitters in Indian cricket. Indian Premier League. His stunning 35-ball century in last season’s tournament was just the beginning, as he has continued to produce big runs and effective innings at all levels over the past year.Suryavanshi’s rapid rise saw him make his India A debut in late 2025, leading the ACC Rising Stars to the Asia Cup. Jitesh Sharma. The tournament gave him early exposure to a senior dressing room, allowing him to interact with players on the fringes of the national team and further highlighting his immense potential.
Speaking on Ranveer Elhabadia’s podcast, Jitesh shared an insight into the youngster’s journey and the bond they formed, both during their India A and Suryavanshi times. Rajasthan Royals Academy near Nagpur“Today he told me, bhai, watch out if you say anything about me,” joked Jitesh. “Very nice boy. He used to come to Talegaon for practice, where RR’s academy is. That’s where I met him, then we went to play Qatar, where I was the captain, so we bonded from there.”Asked about the source of Suryavanshi’s prodigious hitting power, Jitesh points to his natural strength, particularly his wrists.“It’s all natural strength, he’s very strong. His wrists are bigger than mine – I gave him my watch to wear and it was tight for him,” he said, highlighting the physical attributes behind the youngster’s explosive batting.“Chhota Hulk hai wah (that kid is Hulk)”, added Jitesh, comparing him to the iconic Marvel character. The description fits, considering Suryavanshi hit 11 sixes during his IPL century and relied on consistent big hitting to dominate the bowlers.Jitesh also revealed the fear factor that the youngster has already instilled in the bowlers in the nets.“He swings his bat so hard that the bowler fears he might die if he hits it straight. RR’s net bowlers, I know them, they say they don’t lift the ball because he can hit it straight back. So they bowl short balls so that he hits it away from them,” he explained.With Sanju Samson no longer in the set-up, Suryavanshi is set to play a regular role at the top of the order. Rajasthan Royals will be part of a young batting unit that includes Yashvi Jaiswal and the skipper. Ryan Pragueboth understand the pressure of performing early in their careers.“He instills this fear. He’s like Nicholas Pooran, a lefty lefty, a very hard hitter. You’re afraid he might hit you,” said Jitesh, comparing him to Nicholas Pooran. “And Nicholas also listens to Hindi songs,” he added humorously.Turning 15 just a day before the start of IPL 2026, Suryavanshi is heading into his second season with high expectations. The opposition is likely to come up with specific plans and target him with short balls, slow deliveries and wide lines. How the young Bihar batsman adapts to these challenges could have ramifications for the coming season.
