Ever since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 season, matches involving Rajasthan Royals have had an added sense of anticipation, with everyone eager to see how the teenage sensation would play against different opposition.
The left-hander has had success against different teams so far, and a closer look at some of his best innings so far reveals a surprising pattern: When Sooryavanshi gets going, a significant chunk of his runs flow through the arc between long leg and square leg. The left-hander has found an area that he could consistently dominate and force players to alter their plans.
The most definitive example came in his knock of 101 against the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, an innings in which he not only became the youngest men’s T20 centurion but also offered a first glimpse of his main strengths as a batsman. Eight of his 11 sixes were hit in the arc between long and mid-wicket, underlining the extent of his control in that region.
Eight of his 11 sixes during his record-breaking innings against GT last year were hit in the arc between long and medium wicket, underlining the extent of his control in that region. (Credit: IPLT20.com)
For being then 14 years old, he showed a remarkable ability to choose lengths from the start and fully commit to his shots. Anything slightly overshot or deflected into his batting arc was dispatched with minimal fuss. Even when players altered his lines, either shortening them or bending them over him, he managed to access the leg side with clever manipulation of angles.
Furthermore, Sooryavanshi has also shown a lack of fear in fast bowling, be it in matches or in the nets.
“We knew what he was capable of and the kind of shots he could play. But doing it in front of such a big crowd, in a high-pressure situation, against a strong bowling attack, was really special. Technically, he has a great downswing, which helps him generate that kind of power. Today, he showed everyone exactly how good he is. Honestly, you could go on and on about that knock,” RR senior assistant coach Vikram Rathour said after the match.
“He is a guy who takes on Jofra. [Archer] on the networks. Jofra is perhaps one of the most difficult bowlers to face in the nets because he is very clumsy and bowls fast. But he is the one who really fights against it and really confronts it,” he added.
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If that knock was the plan, his 52 against CSK in the first match of IPL 2026 reinforced it, but in a different context. This innings showed that Sooryavanshi could dominate the powerplay as he hit four sixes in the same arc as the innings against GT last year.
In his 52 against CSK on Monday, Sooryavanshi targeted the middle and long regions and managed to clear the boundary. (Credit: IPLT20.com)
Crucially, both entries highlighted how early the terms of matches dictate. By targeting a specific zone, Sooryavanshi not only maximizes scoring opportunities but also disrupts bowling plans in the first few overs, thereby putting the opponent at a disadvantage from the start and relieving pressure on his own set-up.
What also stood out was his ability to adjust his goal angles without straying from his main strength. He went straighter when needed and then quickly moved towards mid-wicket, making it difficult for the bowlers to settle into a fixed line.
In the IPL 2026 opener against CSK, Sooryavanshi also gave a glimpse of his six-hit offside ability when he carved a slower ball off a Matt Henry length outside off at deep backward point.
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His 57 against CSK in IPL 2025 (left) generated 34 runs in the same long arc to the square leg, while his 40 against Punjab Kings (right) was based on extending that arc from the ground to the square leg. (Credit: IPLT20.com)
The pattern is also evident in some of his other hits. His 57 against CSK in IPL 2025 generated 34 runs in the same long arc to the square leg, while his 40 against Punjab Kings was based on extending that arc from the ground to the square leg.
The left-hander may not be a 360-degree hitter yet, but he doesn’t need to be. As long as he continues to dominate one side of the pitch so convincingly, he will remain a serious threat against any bowling attack.
