Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler has made a bold comparison for young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, drawing parallels not to Sachin Tendulkar, as some might expect, but to two other modern-day greats. The young Suryavanshi has captured the imagination of cricket fans with his fearless approach and explosive hitting, particularly during his record-breaking stint in the recent IPL season.
Buttler's comparison stems from witnessing Suryavanshi's incredible talent firsthand. The Englishman noted the young batter's audacious strokeplay, especially his penchant for hitting sixes, even against top-quality international bowlers. He specifically mentioned Suryavanshi's innings against a bowling attack comprising Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Rashid Khan, highlighting the "scale of the sixes" he was hitting.
Buttler stated that Suryavanshi's bat swing reminded him of two legendary batsmen. He didn't explicitly name the players, implying a degree of similarity without definitively stating that Suryavanshi is exactly like them.
Suryavanshi burst onto the scene with a remarkable IPL debut, grabbing attention with his aggressive intent from ball one. The 14-year-old became the youngest player in IPL history after Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹1.10 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. More impressively, he soon became the youngest to score a century in the league. Playing against Gujarat Titans, Suryavanshi reached his century in just 35 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history, only behind Chris Gayle's 30-ball blitz.
Born in Bihar, Suryavanshi's journey began at the tender age of four, guided by his father. By age 12, he was already representing Bihar's U-19 team in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, showcasing his prodigious talent. He continued to impress, notching a 190-run innings in an India U-19 preparatory match before their tour to England. His performances in the 2024 ACC U-19 Asia Cup further cemented his reputation, scoring 76 off 46 against UAE and 67 off 36 in the semi-final against Sri Lanka.
Despite the excitement surrounding Suryavanshi, some voices urge caution against excessive hype. Some argue that comparisons to legends like Sachin Tendulkar are premature. They emphasize that while Suryavanshi shows immense promise, sustained performance and adaptability to different conditions are crucial for long-term success.
The young batsman possesses a high backlift and eye-pleasing downswing. His power comes from the core of his body, and his go-to shot is a heave over mid-wicket.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s journey is only just beginning, but with the backing of experienced players like Jos Buttler and the guidance of his coaches, the young cricketer has the potential to reach great heights.