IPL 2026: ‘He is going to be the next face of Indian Cricket’ - Lalit Modi backs Rajasthan Royals star

Published - 16 Apr 2026, 17:08 IST | Updated - 16 Apr 2026, 17:14 IST

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi was full of praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating that the young talent has the potential to become the face of Indian cricket in the future. Sooryavanshi has been in sensational form during the IPL 2026 season, playing a key role in helping Rajasthan Royals (RR) get off to an impressive start.

The youngster has already notched up two half-centuries and is striking the ball at an extraordinary rate of 263.16, showcasing his fearless approach and attacking mindset. Lalit Modi highlighted how rare it is to see such confidence and composure from a young player.

"Look at the young kid. Look at (Vaibhav) Sooryavanshi. I can tell you now that kid is going to go out there and be the new face of Indian cricket in the future. The confidence in the kid. Look at the confidence in the kid and his face. 14 years old! My son is 14 years old,” said Lalit in a podcast to Michael Vaughan.

[WATCH] Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s hilarious dugout reaction

Lalit also advised that managing a young talent like Sooryavanshi will be crucial, especially as he has gained fame at a very early stage of his career. He cautioned that handling success and attention properly is important, adding that he has seen several cricketers struggle or lose direction in similar situations if not guided well.

"This is going to be the next journey for cricketers is how we manage them, how we groom them and how we make sure that it's not about the next watch and the next Ferrari and it's happened to a lot of the players. You could see it in the IPL. It's created lots of monsters but it has created some great players. The Sooryavanshi kid.  I saw this kid hit, [I thought] 'Not possible, I am dreaming. It's not possible that this kid is 14. Seriously?' I am Googling it, I am calling out people, [asking], 'Is this real or is somebody making this up?' And I am getting these messages, and I tell them I am watching. Not once, not twice, this guy has outperformed everybody," said Lalit.

The left-handed batter has scored 452 runs in 12 games for RR, including one century and three half-centuries. RR are currently placed second on the points table with four wins from five matches, accumulating eight points so far. They will next face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday, April 19 at the iconic Eden Gardens.