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"Pure Cinema": Pujara Hails 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After 16-Ball 43 in IPL

Cheteshwar Pujara praised 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless 16-ball 43 against Punjab Kings. Sooryavanshi's knock helped Rajasthan Royals chase down 223 and become the first team to beat PBKS in IPL 2026. Pujara described watching the young batter as "pure cinema" and highlighted his consistency in the Powerplay. He also lauded Yuzvendra Chahal's impactful spell of 3/36 for PBKS.

Key Points: Pujara Hails 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 16-Ball 43 IPL Knock

  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scores 43 off 16 balls vs PBKS
  • Pujara calls his batting "pure cinema"
  • RR becomes first team to beat high-flying PBKS in IPL 2026
  • Pujara also praises Chahal's 3/36 spell
2 min read

"It's pure cinema watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat": Pujara after 15-year-old's 16-ball 43 against PBKS

Cheteshwar Pujara praises RR's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless 43 off 16 balls vs PBKS, calling it "pure cinema." Also lauds Yuzvendra Chahal's spell.

"It's pure cinema watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi bat. - Cheteshwar Pujara"

Mumbai, April 29

Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara hailed Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless approach and said, "It's pure cinema" watching the 15-year-old prodigy bat.

Pujara's words of praise come after Sooryavanshi smashed a 16-ball 43 on Tuesday, helping RR become the first team of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 to beat the high-flying Punjab Kings (PBKS).

RR, while chasing the target of 223 against PBKS, got off to a flying start as they raced to 84/1 in 6 overs. The 2008 IPL champions eventually won the match by six wickets.

While Sooryavanshi got out in the fourth over, he had already made sure that RR got off to a flying start, scoring 43 runs off 16 balls, smashing five sixes and three boundaries.

Speaking on JioHotstar, expert Cheteshwar Pujara praised Sooryavanshi for his fearless and attacking batting style, highlighting his consistency and ability to dominate bowlers even when they anticipate his approach--especially during the Powerplay, where he gives his team a strong advantage.

"It's pure cinema watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi bat. The way he approaches every bowler with that fearless mindset is remarkable. He simply watches the ball and backs himself to strike it. What stands out is that even when the opposition knows he's going to attack, they still struggle to contain him. That consistency, combined with his fearless intent in the Powerplay, is what gives his team a decisive edge and sets up games like this," Pujara said.

While PBKS lost the match, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal impressed with the ball by registering figures of 3/36 in 4 overs, claiming the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag.

Pujara praised Chahal for his clever use of variations, highlighting his courage to keep attacking despite being hit and his commitment to his strategy, making his spell highly effective in T20 cricket.

"Yuzvendra Chahal was exceptional, especially in the way he used his variations. Even after being hit, he had the courage to keep flighting the ball, changing his pace and lines to create opportunities. His control over speed, ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s, makes it difficult for batters to settle. In T20 cricket, that variation is crucial, and what stood out was his willingness to stick to his plans and attack, which made it a very impactful spell," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Can we take a moment to appreciate Pujara praising a T20 blaster? The man who anchors Test innings is now a fan of aggressive batting—times have changed! Seriously though, Vaibhav's knock was breathtaking. 5 sixes in 16 balls against a top team like PBKS? That's not just talent, that's nerves of steel. We need more such youngsters in our domestic circuit.
J
James A
Impressive knock from a kid, but let's not get carried away. It's one match in the IPL. The real test is consistency over a season and at the international level. Still, good to see Indian young guns fearless. Reminds me of a young Yuvraj Singh. Let's see how he develops under pressure.
K
Kavya N
Pujara's comments show how much the game has evolved. A Test specialist appreciating a power-hitter—that's the beauty of cricket today. Vaibhav's approach is exactly what T20 needs: watch the ball, hit the ball. And Chahal's spell proves experience matters too. RR vs PBKS was a proper thriller! 👏
R
Rohit L
Pure cinema indeed! Vaibhav Suryavanshi took on a quality attack like it was nothing. His six-hitting ability is insane for a 15-year-old. But I have one concern: the hype around young players can be damaging. Remember what happened to some earlier prodigies? We need proper grooming, not just social media fame. Hope Rajasthan Royals handle him well.
M
Michael C

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