Ex-Pakistan Batter Mohammad Yousuf Compares Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Young Shahid Afridi on X

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to dominate headlines after his explosive performances in IPL 2026, but a comparison made by former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has now triggered a fresh debate online. Yousuf compared the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals star to former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, a remark that drew mixed reactions from cricket fans across social media.

The comparison came after Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking knock of 97 runs off just 29 balls in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The innings narrowly missed becoming the fastest century in IPL history and further strengthened the youngster’s reputation as one of the most destructive batting talents in world cricket.

Posting on X, Mohammad Yousuf wrote that Sooryavanshi reminded him of a young Shahid Afridi because of his fearless and explosive style of batting. He praised the Indian teenager’s confidence and energy, saying the “future is here.” Afridi himself had stunned the cricketing world early in his career when he smashed a 37-ball ODI century in 1996, a record that stood for nearly two decades.

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However, the comparison did not go down well with a section of Indian cricket fans. Several users on social media called it an unfair comparison, with some even labeling it the “biggest insult” to Sooryavanshi. Others argued that the Rajasthan Royals batter has already shown greater consistency and maturity than Afridi did at the same age.

Despite the online debate, Sooryavanshi’s performances remain the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. The teenager has already scored 680 runs this season at an astonishing strike rate above 240, making him one of the leading contenders for the Most Valuable Player award. His fearless approach against elite bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins has earned admiration from former players around the world.

Ahead of Rajasthan Royals’ Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans, GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel admitted that every team is trying to find ways to dismiss the youngster early. Patel praised Sooryavanshi’s talent and urged people to stop focusing on his age, saying the teenager has already proven himself at the highest level.

Rajasthan Royals will now hope Sooryavanshi can continue his dream run and help the franchise reach the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With his fearless batting and record-breaking performances, the 15-year-old is rapidly becoming one of the defining stories of the season.

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