New Delhi: Captain of Kings XI Punjab Shreyas Iyer gave abundant praise rajasthan royalsTeenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has called him an “amazing talent” and hailed him as a “star of the future” after his impressive performance in IPL 2026.Sooryavanshi has been one of the standout performers this season, scoring an astounding 246 runs in six innings at a strike rate of over 236, grabbing attention with his fearless performance at the peak of his powers.“He’s an amazing talent and all the adjectives don’t matter to him,” Iyer said. “The way his bat flows, the rhythm and momentum he creates before the shot — I think he’s a guy for the future.”‘Be yourself’: Iyer’s motto for fearless battingIyer, who himself has scored 208 runs this season, stressed the importance of confidence and personality in modern T20 cricket – a philosophy he feels fits Sooryavanshi’s game perfectly.“Whenever I talk to players, my only message is: Be yourself. Don’t try to imitate or imitate anyone,” he said. “When you’re fearless and gorgeous in your own way, you don’t have to copy anyone else.”The Punjab captain attributed his success in the opener, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya both crossing the 200-run mark this season, to this mentality.“When you tell these guys they are game-winners, it instills confidence in them. They can go out there and play freely,” he added.Looking back on his batting, Iyer recalled a highlight moment against Jasprit Bumrah when instinct took over. “It’s all instinct. When you face probably the best bowler in the world, you have to back your instincts,” he said, stressing on clear thinking and emotional control in high-pressure situations.While Iyer remains focused on guiding Kings XI Punjab to their first title, his admiration for Suryavanshi highlights a wider shift in the league – where young, fearless batsmen are redefining the tempo of the game.
