'Performing against Mumbai Indians is always special' - Ex-MI bowler credits Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for Guwahati blitz

Published - 08 Apr 2026, 17:54 IST | Updated - 08 Apr 2026, 18:17 IST

Former Mumbai Indians cricketer Piyush Chawla was left massively impressed by the fearless display with the bat shown by the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as the youngster smashed a 14-ball 39 for Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. In Match 13 of IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi smashed a formidable pace attack consisting of Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, and Deepak Chahar, taking the trio to the cleaners.

Chawla was impressed by Sooryavanshi's approach in the all-important match, which was shortened to only 11 overs a side due to rain. The Bihar cricketer's short stay at the crease created a huge impact, as he hit five humongous sixes and a boundary during his time in the middle.

“Performing against Mumbai Indians is always special because of the quality of their bowling attack, with world-class bowlers like Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah. When a batter takes on bowlers of that calibre and delivers an innings like Vaibhav Suryavanshi did, it naturally stands out and gets people talking," Chawla told JioStar.

Chawla also lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi's opening partner, who smashed an unbeaten 77 off just 32 balls, as the visitors were set a formidable target of 151 runs by the 2008 champions in a rain-curtailed encounter.

“Sometimes a player simply enjoys batting against a particular opposition, and that confidence shows. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked assured from the moment he came in and set the tone from the very first over. The way he took charge of the innings was impressive. Scoring 77 runs in an 11-over game highlights the kind of impact he can have,” the veteran cricketer opined.

As RR completed a comprehensive thumping of the five-time champions, they completed their third consecutive win of the season, having already defeated Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. Chawla, the cricketer-turned-commentator lauded RR for their exceptional performance on the field on Tuesday.

“Rajasthan Royals looked ready from the start, especially with the way they approached the Powerplay. Their batting set the tone early on. With the ball, Jofra Archer was right on the money, and Nandre Burger followed up with crucial wickets. When you’re chasing 150 in 11 overs and lose three wickets for around 20 runs, the chase becomes extremely difficult. Mumbai Indians were already behind the game within the first few overs,” Chawla added.