Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has revealed he will not be driving the SUV he won for his IPL 2026 performances anytime soon, with the 15-year-old joking that he first needs to become eligible for a driving licence. Speaking in a YouTube video interview with Rajasthan Royals, the teenage batting sensation reflected on one of the many rewards that followed a remarkable season in which he emerged as the competition’s leading run-scorer and one of its biggest stars.
The left-hander finished IPL 2026 with 776 runs, securing the Orange Cap as the tournament’s top scorer. He also recorded a strike rate of 237.30, the highest in the competition, helping him collect multiple individual honours, including the sponsored SUV.
Waiting for the keys
Asked about the vehicle during the Rajasthan Royals interview, Sooryavanshi offered a light-hearted response about what comes next.
“I’ll keep it for three more years. Abhi toh license aane do (first, let me get the license), then I’ll drive it. I will ask my father to drive it, and sit next to him,” Sooryavanshi said.
His breakout campaign has also accelerated his rise beyond the IPL. Following his standout season, the youngster earned his maiden India call-up and was named in the country’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series, as well as the Asian Games 2026.
The mindset behind the success
While discussing his approach to the game, Sooryavanshi spoke about the role preparation and visualization play in helping him handle pressure situations.
“I also try to do it beforehand. When I’m in my room, I think about playing in matches: how I will play against a certain bowler, what I will do, and if it’s a pressure situation, what I will do in that. That helps a lot, and you become mentally very strong because you are preparing your mind in advance. We always train the body, but keeping the mind very strong is very important. If you’re playing an IPL final and you’re batting alone, you need 50 runs, 60 runs, with 20 balls, 30 balls left – there you need to be mentally very strong,” he added.
The comments offer an insight into the mindset that underpinned one of the most impressive seasons by a young player in IPL history. With international opportunities now arriving and major tournaments ahead, Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise shows no sign of slowing down after a breakthrough year that delivered both silverware and a new SUV waiting patiently for its future driver.
