Two Sixes Off Bumrah at 15: Why Graeme Smith Thinks Sooryavanshi Is IPL 2026's Biggest Story

Cricket has had prodigies before — but few at 15 years old have passed the Jasprit Bumrah test on the biggest stage. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did it on Tuesday, and the world is taking notice. Graeme Smith, who helped Rajasthan Royals win the very first IPL title back in 2008, called him a potential “proper superstar” — and the stats behind that prediction are hard to argue with.

The Bumrah Test — Passed With Two Sixes

In RR’s rain-curtailed match against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday, Sooryavanshi walked to the crease knowing that Jasprit Bumrah — the world’s number-one T20 bowler — was operating at the other end. Most senior batters take time to settle against Bumrah. Most treat the first ball they face from him as a survival exercise.

Sooryavanshi hit his very first delivery for six. Then hit him for another six in the same over. He finished with 39 off 14 balls in a 27-run RR win.

Former India captain Anil Kumble watched on in amazement, expressing astonishment at the composure and fearlessness required to take on Bumrah off ball one. He was not alone. The global cricket community has been watching Sooryavanshi since his 15-ball fifty against CSK on opening night, and the Bumrah moment has amplified that attention to a completely different level.

Graeme Smith: “He Could Become A Proper Superstar”

Smith — now SA20 Commissioner and Betway ambassador — singled Sooryavanshi out in his IPL 2026 blog as the standout name of the early weeks, placing him ahead of even the established giants like Kohli and Rohit.

“The IPL has started exactly how I expected it to, with flatter pitches and high-scoring games. As always, it’s interesting to see how the old school superstars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli perform, but I think this youngster for Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, is the one to watch in the opening few weeks.”

“He has already shown his ability to power it right from ball one. As a young man, he could become a proper superstar over the course of the tournament and I’m really excited to see how he goes.”

Smith’s connection to the franchise goes back to 2008, when he was part of Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals squad that won the inaugural IPL. His endorsement carries both the weight of IPL history and the credibility of someone who has watched great batters up close throughout his career.

What He Has Already Done at 15

Sooryavanshi’s cricket story is extraordinary even before IPL 2026 is factored in.

His 101 off 38 balls is the second-fastest century in IPL history, and his 15-ball fifty against CSK is the third-fastest fifty in the competition’s 19-season history.

His Own Ambitions Are as Big as the Predictions

Before IPL 2026 began, Sooryavanshi told Rajasthan Royals that he had two goals for the season: win the IPL trophy with RR, and break Chris Gayle’s record of 175 — the highest individual score in IPL history. He leads India U19 to a World Cup scoring 175 off 80 balls in the final — and is now targeting Gayle’s T20 landmark in the senior league.

At 15, with three IPL 2026 matches gone, with the Purple Cap pair backing him at the top, and with Graeme Smith already looking forward to what he does next — Rajasthan Royals have a story that will only keep getting bigger.