South Africa pace star Kagiso Rabada has been left hugely impressed by teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising the youngster’s fearless mindset and explosive strokeplay in the ongoing Indian Premier League season.
The 15-year-old has emerged as one of the biggest talking points of the tournament after taking on some of the world’s top bowlers with remarkable confidence. Rabada witnessed that aggression firsthand during the clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Rajasthan Royals, where Sooryavanshi’s clean six-hitting grabbed widespread attention.
Speaking about the youngster, Rabada said Sooryavanshi’s fearless attitude makes him a rare talent in modern T20 cricket.
“He’s a great talent. He’s got really fast hands and there’s absolutely no fear in him right now. That’s what makes it fascinating to watch,” Rabada said in an interaction with PTI.
The South African quick added that players like Sooryavanshi are helping keep the IPL exciting by bringing fresh energy and unpredictability to the game. “It’s great for cricket and great for the IPL. The game is alive because of players who come in and make headlines with performances like that,” he added.
Rabada, however, insisted he does not approach the teenager differently from any other batter despite the growing hype around him. “When I’m bowling, I just see another batter in front of me and try to get him out. But he’s definitely an X-factor player. Fast hands and no fear — that’s a dangerous combination,” he said.
The experienced pacer also spoke about the return of traditional fast bowling methods in T20 cricket, saying disciplined seam and swing bowling can still trouble aggressive batters even in high-scoring contests. He pointed out that quality execution remains the biggest factor for bowlers in the shortest format.
Rabada, who has regularly bowled close to the 150 kmph mark this season, also reflected on his successful new-ball partnership with Mohammed Siraj for Gujarat Titans. The duo has played a major role in the franchise’s strong performances with the ball during the powerplay overs.
“It’s really about understanding your role. Siraj has his job to do and I have mine. We’ve built a good understanding and try to perform our roles as best as possible,” Rabada explained. The Proteas fast bowler concluded by saying there is no secret formula to success in cricket, adding that consistent execution is what ultimately delivers results.
“If you bowl well consistently, you’ll get wickets. That’s how the game works,” he said.
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