Vaibhav Suryawanshi smashed 78 off just 26 balls against RCB — hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood for fun, & earning a special gift from Virat Kohli
New Delhi: Age is just a number for him. Imagine being 15 years old — still in school, still learning the game — and walking out to face one of the most experienced pace attacks in the IPL. That is exactly what Vaibhav Suryawanshi did against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and he did not just survive. He absolutely destroyed them.
Taking down the swing king Bhuvi
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not just any bowler. Most young players are intimidated when they face Bhuvi. He has troubled India’s best batters — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and many others — for over a decade. He swings the ball, varies his pace, and knows exactly how to make hard for batters.
Vaibhav treated him like a net bowler. In the very first over, he hit Bhuvi for two crisp boundaries. When Bhuvi came back later, Vaibhav smashed him for a six over mid-on, followed by two more fours. That is when his fifty came up — in just 15 balls, his second 50 of the season. Bhuvi could only stand with his hands on his hips, and with stunned look.
Dismantling Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood is Australia’s top T20 pacer. If Bhuvi was the appetizer, Hazlewood was the main course. The Australian pacer was shocked in the 4th over.
Vaibhav produced a brutal sequence of 4-4-4-6, taking 19 runs off the over. Whether it was carving the ball behind point or pulling short deliveries into the stands, Vaibhav had an answer for everything. One of the most respected T20 pacers in the world looked completely disturb, a sight rarely seen in professional cricket.
What the players said
The impact of his innings was reflected in the comments from teammates and rivals alike:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: “For a 15-year-old, he is too mature… He deserves all the credit.”
Dhruv Jurel: “It feels unreal… We doubt ourselves that how can he hit so well on the same wicket we bat.”
Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain): “The way Vaibhav batted made all the difference. It felt like the wicket wasn’t doing much when he was out there.”
https://www.iplt20.com/video/65101/ipl-2026-m16-rr-vs-rcb—rajat-patidar-interview?tagNames=2026
Gift from King Kohli
The most emotional moment came after the final whistle. Virat Kohli, whom Vaibhav considers his idol, showed why he is a true ambassador of the sport.
Despite being on the losing side of the teenager’s brilliance, Virat Kohli still showed immense class. After the match, he walked up and autographed an RR cap for Vaibhav Suryawanshi.
Moreover, he added a simple yet powerful message on it. In fact, this gesture beautifully highlighted the spirit of the game.
“Dear Vaibhav, well done.”
What sets Vaibhav apart is not just his power. It is how calm he is when he bats.He doesn’t think about who is bowling. Instead, he ignores reputations and international records. All he does is watch the ball and hit it with complete freedom.
